Patent NZ-593393-A (NZ)
Title: Medical triage system
Inventor: GLIMP THOMAS H
IPC: G06Q10/00
Filed: 2005-11-08
Abstract: A computer-implemented, triage category method for determining a medical triage disposition is disclosed. The method is executed by a computer including a processor and coupled with storage and comprises providing a set of tiered triage questions consisting of a plurality of only yes/no questions arranged in a plurality of tiers by the computer to a triage operator. The plurality of tiers is ranked according to a level of urgency. A plurality of dispositions corresponding to the plurality of tiers is provided by the computer to a triage operator. A first "yes" answer is received in response to any of the plurality of only yes/no questions directly results in selection by the computer of a disposition that corresponds to the tier which contains the affirmatively-answered question except within either of a non-urgent and self-care tier. The triage dispositions are final determinations whether and to what level of medical care a person undergoing triage is directed, the plurality of only yes/no questions and the plurality of dispositions designed to allow inquiry of the person by the triage operator when the person is located remotely from the triage operator. The plurality of only yes/no questions in relation to the corresponding plurality of dispositions in a database are stored within the storage of the computer. A computer-implemented method of developing a set of standardized triage categories for organizing medical triage inquiries is disclosed. The method executed by a computer including a processor and coupled with storage and comprises providing a plurality of triage categories comprising body parts, injury types, symptoms, or a combination thereof to the computer; providing a plurality of tiers within each of the plurality of triage categories to the computer. The plurality of tiers is ranked according to urgency level by the computer. Each of the plurality of tiers corresponds to one of a plurality of different triage dispositions and the triage dispositions re final determinations whether and to what level of medical care a person undergoing triage is directed. The method further comprises sorting with the computer only yes/no questions into the plurality of triage categories. The computer sorts the questions into the plurality of tiers based on a correlation that each of the questions has with the urgency level of each of the plurality of tiers. A "yes" answer to one of the questions indicates the presence of a symptom or a visible injury related to a medical condition and a "no" answer to one of the questions indicates the absence of the symptom or the visible injury related to the medical condition. The first "yes" answer is received in response to any of the questions asked by a triage operator directly results in selection of a disposition that corresponds to the tier which contains the affirmatively answered question except within either of a non-urgent and self-care tier, the questions and the plurality of dispositions designed to allow inquiry of the person by the triage operator when the person is located remotely from the triage operator. The questions in relation to the corresponding plurality of dispositions in a database are stored by the computer within the storage of the computer.