Triage

Triage is the structured methodology for prioritizing patient care based on the severity of their conditions, particularly in scenarios such as mass casualty incidents. Utilizing systems like START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment), patients are categorized into immediate, delayed, minimal, and expectant groups to optimize resource allocation. Not to be confused with patient assessment, triage emphasizes the prioritization of treatment to ensure that critical patients receive timely care, especially in accordance with NIMS protocols. In EMS contexts, it is commonly framed alongside structured communication and triage concepts such as START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) or SALT (Sort, Assess, Lifesaving interventions, Treatment/Transport) as shared terminology.