Characterization of triage V patients who consult the emergency room of a high-level complexity institution in the city of Medellín, Colombia

Caracterización de los pacientes triaje V que consultan a urgencias de una institución de alto nivel de complejidad en la ciudad de Medellín, Colombia

Introduction: Emergency triage is mandatory, our system classifies patients into five levels, classifications I to III are institutionalized, IV and V are referred for outpatient care in a period of 24 to 48 hours because they are considered to be low risk.

Objective: To characterize patients classified as triage V in a given period.

Materials and methods: All the triages V of the month of June 2022 were characterized, identifying the age, compromised system and reported symptoms, follow-up was carried out through their insurer or by phone call to find out the resolution of the reason for consultation or complications derived from triage classification. Descriptive prospective observational study.

Results: 147 patients classified as triage V during June 2022, 79 were women (53.7%). The main complaint was: respiratory 38 patients (25.8%), gastrointestinal 31 (21%) and musculoskeletal 25 (17%); 95 (64.6%) attended their outpatient appointment, their symptoms resolved in 92 (96.8%), of the remaining 52 (35.4%), 36 (69.2%) im-proved, 9 (17.3%) consulted at other institutions or private doctors. 1 patient (1.9%) self-medicated in a pharmacy and 6 patients (11.5%) do not have data because they were not located by telephone nor did their insurer have a record after their classi-fication.

Conclusions: The majority of triage V are young women, with respiratory, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal symptoms, which are adequately resolved on an outpatient basis. Referring them to their insurer is safe and contributes to decongesting emergency services