Table: Criteria for Non-Emergency Category

Persons must meet all four criteria: presence of vital signs within specific ranges, absence of high-risk conditions, absence of significant pathology on focused screening examination, and presence of minor complaint on nonemergency list.

Criteria 1

Nonemergency category must have vital signs within the following limits

Temperature 35-38°C (38.3°C for age > 60 years old)

Respirations 21-20

Blood pressure 90-160 mmHg systolic 60-110 mmHg diastolic

Pulse 60-110 (100 for age > 60 years old)

Criteria 2

High-risk infection indications must be absent

Severe pain

Chest or abdominal pain

Younger than 16 years

Inability to walk

Patient volunteers high-risk condition

Criteria 3

Focused Screening ExaminationGuidelines for triage nurse

Complaint related to: Examination performed

Ear paiExamination of ear

Head and neck Inspection of face, mouth, throat, neck

Respiratory Auscultation of lungs

Skin/wound complaint Inspection of problem area of skin

Joints Inspection, palpation, joint range of motion

Back Inspection of back, overall appearance of patient, observation of gait

Feet Inspection of feet, observation of gait

Criteria 4

Nonemergency Chief Complaints

Allergy or hay fever Diarrhea (not orthostatic)

Anxiety Chronic dizziness

Mild back pain, able to walk without assistance Drug or alcohol detoxification

Constipation, 3 days or less Dysuria (mild), female

Minor contusions or abrasions Ear pain

Mild cough, without hemoptysis or respiratory impairment Mild eye irritation without signs of infection

Minor headache without neurological impairment Foot problems (blisters, pain, ingrown toenails, plantar warts)

Chronic recurrent hematuria Minor rectal pain or itching

Hepatitis exposure or symptoms Sexual disease or exposure

Immunizations and g-globulin requests Chronic sinusitis

Joint paiMinor skin infection, sores

Lice or scabies (suspected or real) Minor skin sore, not infected

Mouth blisters Sore throat

Muscle aches Sleep disorder

Nausea or vomiting Localized sunburn without blisters

Neck pain (no history of acute trauma) Suture removal

Painless urethral discharge Trauma follow-up (minor injuries originally treated elsewhere) Physical examination requests Upper respiratory infectionsymptoms (except patients with Pregnancy testing diabetes, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, cancer) Prescription refills Vaginal bleedingminor (one pad in past 6 hours)

Pruritus without rash Vaginal discharge

Simple, localized rash Weaknessappears well

Work release or disability form completion Wound rechecks

Reprinted with permission: Derlet RW, Kinser D. Ann Emerg Med 1995;25:215-223.