Can Paramedics Using Guidelines Accurately Triage Patients?  added 10/15/01

In Annals of Emergency Medicine  Sept 2001 pages 268-277

Patient diagnosis for categories of interest to Skyaid were:
    Cardiovascular 106 (9%), Major trauma 83 (7%) Neurologic (non-seizure) 46 (4%)

The paramedics were aware that their decisions were going to be cross-checked by doctors – so the Hawthorne effect may have be active – that is, they were probably more conservative for this study than they would normally be.

The study found an ‘under triage’ rate of 21% - that is, 21% of the time the doctor would  have recommended a stronger action – such as advanced life support instead of basic life support.

The only case of undertriage for the above categories was Congestive Heart Failure 3 times and Myocardial infarction – 2 times.  For a total of 5 times out of 106+83+46  - which is only 2%