Patent ID: 8352285

Claim:
A computer implemented method of dynamically adjusting to changing triage conditions in an emergency department, the computer implemented method comprising: a processor receiving an initial numerical triage level classification for a latest patient to arrive at an emergency department; electronically collecting availability levels of resources needed to treat the latest patient to arrive at the emergency department; the processor receiving numerical triage level classifications for all other patients currently in the emergency department; the processor adjusting the initial numerical triage level classification of the latest patient based on the availability levels of resources needed to treat the latest patient and based on the numerical triage level classifications for said all other patients currently in the emergency department; the processor summing all numerical triage level classifications for all patients currently in the emergency department; in response to a sum of all numerical triage level classifications exceeding a first predetermined threshold, the processor issuing messages to reallocate other resources in order to provide the resources needed to treat the latest patient to arrive at the emergency department; in response to the sum of all numerical triage level classifications exceeding a second predetermined threshold that is greater than the first predetermined threshold, the processor automatically implementing a disaster plan to prevent additional patients from arriving at the emergency department; the processor calculating, based on historical data, a predicted length of down time during which resources will not be adequate to permit receiving new patients at the emergency department; and the processor executing the disaster plan by instructing local broadcasting media to broadcast a message to the general public that the emergency department is unable to receive new patients for the predicted length of down time.