Introduction:
The Speech-Language Pathologist’s role in the acute care setting is challenging and fast-paced. Many different factors will determine which patients will be seen and in what order they will be addressed. Factors such as patient census, time of physician orders, number of instrumental studies and SLP staffing are all variables at this level of care. As SLPs, we must triage our caseload to ensure that patients are prioritized appropriately.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary (n.d.) defines the verb “triage” as “the assigning of priority order to projects on the basis of where funds and other resources can be best used, are most needed, or are most likely to achieve success.”
The MedSLP Collective has created an acute care triage system which is designed to help you maximize your resources and prioritize patients based on the urgency of care, the severity of illness, and the prognosis for improvement. This is an outline to prioritize your census, but you should always consider individual factors (e.g., patient motivation, changes in medical status) to guide your decision-making.
Watch the Video:
Resources:
