Table: Criteria for Non-Emergency Category
Persons must meet all four criteria: presence of vital signs within specific ranges, absence of high-risk conditions, absence of significant pathology on focused screening examination, and presence of minor complaint on nonemergency list.
Criteria 1
Nonemergency category must have vital signs within the following limits
Temperature 35-38°C (38.3°C for age > 60 years old)
Respirations 21-20
Blood pressure 90-160 mmHg systolic 60-110 mmHg diastolic
Pulse 60-110 (100 for age > 60 years old)
Criteria 2
High-risk infection indications must be absent
Severe pain
Chest or abdominal pain
Younger than 16 years
Inability to walk
Patient volunteers high-risk condition
Criteria 3
Focused Screening ExaminationGuidelines for triage nurse
Complaint related to: Examination performed
Ear paiExamination of ear
Head and neck Inspection of face, mouth, throat, neck
Respiratory Auscultation of lungs
Skin/wound complaint Inspection of problem area of skin
Joints Inspection, palpation, joint range of motion
Back Inspection of back, overall appearance of patient, observation of gait
Feet Inspection of feet, observation of gait
Criteria 4
Nonemergency Chief Complaints
Allergy or hay fever Diarrhea (not orthostatic)
Anxiety Chronic dizziness
Mild back pain, able to walk without assistance Drug or alcohol detoxification
Constipation, 3 days or less Dysuria (mild), female
Minor contusions or abrasions Ear pain
Mild cough, without hemoptysis or respiratory impairment Mild eye irritation without signs of infection
Minor headache without neurological impairment Foot problems (blisters, pain, ingrown toenails, plantar warts)
Chronic recurrent hematuria Minor rectal pain or itching
Hepatitis exposure or symptoms Sexual disease or exposure
Immunizations and g-globulin requests Chronic sinusitis
Joint paiMinor skin infection, sores
Lice or scabies (suspected or real) Minor skin sore, not infected
Mouth blisters Sore throat
Muscle aches Sleep disorder
Nausea or vomiting Localized sunburn without blisters
Neck pain (no history of acute trauma) Suture removal
Painless urethral discharge Trauma follow-up (minor injuries originally treated elsewhere) Physical examination requests Upper respiratory infectionsymptoms (except patients with Pregnancy testing diabetes, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, cancer) Prescription refills Vaginal bleedingminor (one pad in past 6 hours)
Pruritus without rash Vaginal discharge
Simple, localized rash Weaknessappears well
Work release or disability form completion Wound rechecks
Reprinted with permission: Derlet RW, Kinser D. Ann Emerg Med 1995;25:215-223.
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