1This month CanadiEM is features an article recently published in the Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine (CJEM) that compares the Sacco and START triage methods.2 The START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) triage method is the most commonly used triage method worldwide and sorts patients based on their vitals and ability to walk. By contrast, the Sacco triage method is a newly developed system that sorts patients based on their vitals and available resources.
To compare these two methods, Jain et al. conducted a virtual reality study with 26 Advanced Care Paramedic Students, with half of the students randomized to the START triage method and the other half randomized to the Sacco Triage method. These simulations were then compared based on the total time taken to triage and the triage rank order. Using this methodology, there was no statistical difference in mean total triage times between the START and Sacco methods (709 s vs 609 s respectively). However, a statistical difference was seen in triage range order between the two methods. This was due to one virtual patient with a left ankle fracture, which was ranked higher by START.
Overall, this study suggests there is no significant difference in triage outcome measures between the Sacco and START methods. In fact, START would be preferred over Sacco in emergency systems with limited funding due to its open-source status.
Note: Thanks to Calvin Yeh, Alvin Chin, Heather Murray, Will Sanderson, Rohit Mohindra, and Lynsey Martin for assisting in the development of this infographic. This article was uploaded and copy-edited by Brent Thoma.
References
Simon Huang
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