ABSTRACT
The triage phase of an algorithm-based medical care system was analyzed in three military patient environments. Combat medics triaged 4,799 patients using a physician-prepared triage manual which specified levels of initial health care based on the patient's presenting complaints and a brief history. Evaluation indicated that 36% of those reporting for sick call were eligible for treatment by medically appropriate self-care protocols. Of the remaining 64%, all but 4% could receive initial evaluation by non-physician health care extenders. The study demonstrates that personnel receiving basic medical training and orientation to an algorithm-directed triage system can direct military patients to appropriate levels of health care.
Subject(s)
Emergency Medical Services/standards , Military Medicine , Triage/standards , Activities of Daily Living , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Female , Humans , Male , Triage/organization & administration , United StatesABSTRACT
Sixty-two cases of pathologic fractures occurring in 53 patients treated at Scott and White Memorial Hospital from 1966 to 1976 are reviewed and analyzed with regard to type of neoplastic lesion, location, mode of therapy initiated, functional stability of therapy selected, and average length of survival after orthopedic procedure. Pertinent literature is reviewed, and our results are compared with those of other series.
