What Happens when You Go to an Emergency Room and What Does Triage Mean?

What is it that you expect when you go to the emergency room? It is unbelievable how some people behave when they visit an ER. Impatient, angry, loud, aggressive, some can be extremely unpleasant and rude. Although it is hard to take when you are on the receiving end, it is understandable because so many are uneducated with the workings of an emergency room.

People are sick, they may be vomiting, they may have pain or fever, they have come to an emergency room because they want help and to feel better. And of course every one who visits the emergency room has the right to prompt and compassionate care. The relief of the misery they are feeling that drove them to come to the emergency room.

However, there are some realities that are very difficult for some people to comprehend. Especially those people that are feeling so poorly. When people are ill, the only thing that matters is that they feel better. And most people want that immediately. Also the loved ones with the person who is ill want their loved one to be helped right away so that their suffering will stop. This is where most people are unprepared for the reality of emergency rooms.

When you arrive in the emergency room, the first thing you do is register at the registration desk. You will give them your main complaint, why you have arrived at the ER. They will also take your insurance information or lack there of, as well as your end of life wishes if you have filled out your DPOA. (durable power of attorney). They will also want your next of kin, any allergies, and all medications that you are currently taking.

You will also be triaged according to the severity of your complaint. This is the most difficult part for people who are ill to understand. And it is even worse for the people who love the person who is ill to understand.

Depending on the ER you go to they have levels of triage that categorize your illness or complaint. Life threatening complaints are category 1. This would include chest pain with corresponding symptoms, Stroke if it is less than three hours since onset of symptoms, Severe trauma with blood loss, Severe eye injury/trauma. First degree burns from fires or chemicals. And Orthopedic trauma with deformity and broken bone puncturing through the skin. Suicide attempts where loss of life is potential. Homicidal ideation with threats or action made.

Notice Pain is not a category 1 triage. You will not die of pain.

Category 2 would include chest pain without corresponding symptoms, stroke symptoms longer than three hours since onset of symptoms, Orthopedic trauma with deformity, broken bones not puncturing the skin. Second degree burns from chemicals or fire.

Category 3 includes, pain complaints, kidney stones, head injuries with patient awake, alert and oriented. Respiratory symptoms, including flu and pneumonia. Infections. Fevers. Vomiting,

This is certainly not an all inclusive list of complaints. And different ER's will Categorize a little differently, but the point is severity wins. Other complaints will decrease in order of severity and resultant category assignment all the way down to a category 5 which includes suture removal, ear aches, sore throats etc. and will be triaged to a minor care instead of the main ER.

When people are ill they want attention immediately. But it should be clear to anyone that someone in danger of dying must be cared for first. There is a limited number of nurses and doctors in an emergency room. Attention must be dealt out in an organized fashion to give care to everyone as quickly and efficiently as possible.

So know this, when you are asked to wait in the emergency room waiting room it is not because you are unimportant or the triage nurse doesn't care about you. It is because thankfully you didn't come into the ER with a complaint that might take your very life. Like someone else may have.

So please be patient and try to understand. The emergency room personnel really do care and will come to you as soon as they possibly can. And they really value your understanding and patience while they try to care for everyone there.

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