Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS)

ABSTRACT

The number of patients visiting the emergency room (ER) is increasing every year. The Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) was developed in Korea in 2012 to help reduce the congestion of the ER at the hospital level and improve the safety of patients. From January 2016, KTAS has been implemented in emergency medical (EM) centers. KTAS evaluates patients who visit the ER by the following process impression evaluation, infection confirmation, primary symptom selection, and primary/secondary considerations. KTAS prioritizes patients according to the level, and if necessary, sets a time for which the patient can wait safely with the aim to see a doctor within that time. KTAS has the characteristics of both severity and acuity, so there can be some discrepancy between the KTAS level and disposition. All EM centers conducted the KTAS classification from March to November, 2016. An analysis of the results of the KTAS classification showed no distortion in the classification from the beginning of KTAS introduction. In the near future, it is hoped to develop a KTAS-based transport protocol reflecting the regional medical resources and cultures at the pre-hospital stage, and establish an effective EM system, including medical basis and policy consideration.