Challenges and Issues in Hospital Mass Casualty Triage-Handout: Challenges and Issues in Hospital Mass Casualty Triage

Handout: Challenges and Issues in Hospital Mass Casualty Triage

Pdf Summary

In this document, Dr. John L Hick discusses the challenges and issues faced in hospital mass casualty triage. He highlights the differences between conventional mass casualty events and mass violence events. Conventional events follow the rule of 85/15 and involve blunt force injuries, while mass violence events have high lethality injuries and do not follow the 85/15 rule. These events also pose secondary and ongoing threats.<br /><br />Dr. Hick emphasizes the need for new paradigms and re-thinking the triage process and methods. He suggests implementing active bystander/stop the bleed approaches, rescue task forces, and rapid transport. Military medical models and high volumes of critical care at hospitals are also recommended.<br /><br />EMS triage plays a crucial role in determining patient priority and choice of destination. The document includes examples of past mass casualty events such as the Red Lake Reservation shooting in 2005 and the Las Vegas shooting in 2017.<br /><br />Primary, secondary, and tertiary triage are discussed, highlighting the importance of one-way flow in the triage process and the need for rapid operative decisions and turnover. Various triage methods such as START, SALT, ESI, and others are mentioned.<br /><br />The document also addresses hospital triage issues, including tracking and documenting injuries, primary and secondary triage, and dealing with unidentified victims. It emphasizes the importance of preparing for a large number of victims and having immediate access to life-saving supplies.<br /><br />The role of ASPR's Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) in providing support and resources for mass casualty events is mentioned. Tips sheets and topic collections related to hospital triage and mass violence are available through TRACIE.<br /><br />The document concludes by inviting questions for Dr. Hick, who is affiliated with Hennepin Healthcare.

Keywords

hospital mass casualty triage

conventional mass casualty events

mass violence events

EMS triage

triage methods

primary triage

secondary triage

ASPR's Technical Resources

TRACIE

Hennepin Healthcare