Emergency Triage

Real-time wearable data could improve triage speed and accuracy when incorporated into emergency call systems. Wearable data may help reduce both under-triage and over-triage. PBR does not require blood pressure measurement, oxygen saturation, or temperature to generate a risk estimate. NHS 999 Pathways uses pre-triage questions to identify life-threatening conditions and set ambulance dispatch priority. PBR requires only a stopwatch and a finger pulse oximeter, both available even in resource-limited settings. Emergency call handlers make triage decisions with limited information and often depend on subjective caller descriptions. Physiological compensatory mechanisms can mask classic warning signs such as tachycardia and hypotension in early septic shock, making triage difficult. Early identification of patients at risk of death or critical deterioration is one of the most important tasks in acute care. PBR is viable for pre-hospital transport and triage scenarios where the full NEWS parameter set cannot be quickly assembled.