Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide both efficient management and counterplans for emergency medical center (EMC) by analyzing the severity and emergency grade of elders in the hospital, and to utilize the results as a clinical nursing service strategy as well. Method: The survey included medical records of senior patients who used the hospital EMC during 2005, and used the analysis instrument by Lee(1998)'s Triage. Results: There were 5,432 patients, averaging 73.6 years old. According to severity, 45.3% were semiemergent, 39.9%, emergent, 11.7%, non-emergent and 3.1%, urgent patients. The urgent and emergent patients generally came to the hospital EMC between 6 am and 6 pm, and on Saturday through Monday. Hospital stay for 38.7% of patients was under 6 hours. Conclusion: It is necessary to relocate nursing personnel and other support persons at times of peak use of emergency facilities by elderly patients. Overflow of elderly patients in the emergency center and improper treatment could be prevented through triage with an instrument for severity classification.

Keywords

• Emergency;
• Aged;
• Triage

• 응급;
• 노인;
• 중증도 분류;