Get Review of Optometry Emergency Telephone Triage Form

First question: Pain or no pain? In an attempt to diagnose the cause of a patient's red eye, the first triage question that should be asked is if the affected eye or eyes are in pain. If there is no pain or only limited pain, we next observe if the hyperemic area is a focal redness or if it is a diffuse hyperemia.

Triaging is an important process in any ER setting. It provides the patients with information regarding their ophthalmic complaints; whether they are urgent or non-urgent, and also how to obtain the appropriate treatment.

Definition. Eye emergencies include cuts, scratches, objects in the eye, burns, chemical exposure, and blunt injuries to the eye or eyelid. Certain eye infections and other medical conditions, such as blood clots or glaucoma, may also need medical care right away.

In fine-tuning communication skills, train the triage staff on what questions to ask. The usual questions are critical: “What is going on with your eye(s)?” “Which eye is it, or are both eyes affected?” and “When did this start?” A lot can be determined by this information alone.

Questions aimed at identifying the patient with possible ACS: Where is your pain? (location) Does it go anywhere else? (radiation) When did it start? (onset) How long has it lasted? (duration) How bad is it? (severity on pain scale) Does anything make it better or worse? Have you taken any medication to relieve it?

It is a method by which a Doctor telephones the patient and assesses through a detailed history whether the patient's medical problem can be managed without the patient having to come in for a face to face appointment.