What type of triage occurs when the emergency department is overwhelmed but still able to provide care?

Incident Triage is the appropriate type of triage that takes place when an emergency department is overwhelmed but still has the capacity to provide care. This form of triage is characterized by prioritizing patients based on the severity of their conditions during situations where the healthcare system is not functioning under normal circumstances but is still actively managing patient care.

In scenarios categorized as incident triage, health professionals assess incoming patients and rank them according to their medical needs, allowing for the optimal allocation of limited resources. This is particularly essential in instances where the volume of patients exceeds the standard operational capacity, ensuring that those who require immediate assistance receive it in a timely manner.

Other types of triage like Daily Triage refer to the routine assessment of patients in regular healthcare settings, while Disaster Triage specifically involves large-scale emergencies with extensive casualties, focusing primarily on maximizing survival during catastrophic events. Population-based Triage, on the other hand, involves making decisions for large groups or communities and is more strategic in nature, often applied in pre-incident planning rather than immediate care scenarios. Understanding these distinctions helps to clarify the context in which Incident Triage is utilized effectively.