Department of Health

Receiving Officer 12:39 PM, Nov 09, 2023

November 9, 2023

Dear Ralph Eugene,

Thank you for your request dated Nov 09, 2023 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for DOH Emergency severity index.

We received your request on Nov 09, 2023 and will respond on or before Nov 30, 2023 12:09:42 PM, in accordance with the Executive Order's implementing rules and regulations.

Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact me using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPSC02MTgwMzI3MDM2OTUM, for request with ticket number #DOH-618032703695.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

FOI Receiving Officer
FOI Officer

Maker 01:05 PM, Nov 09, 2023

Good day! 

Please be informed that we have endorsed your request to DOH-HEALTH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BUREAU for action. 

Kindly await for their response. 

Thank you.

Maker 05:27 PM, Nov 17, 2023

November 17, 2023

Dear Ralph Eugene Cambonga,

Greetings!

Thank you for your request dated Nov 09, 2023 12:09:42 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

Your Request

You asked for DOH Emergency severity index.

Response to Request

Your FOI request is approved. 

Th Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB) as the lead in the development of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health Plan and the development of protocols, guidelines and standards for health emergency management, recently updated its Mass Casualty Management (MCM) Responder's Training modules and manuals. The STIEVE and SORT triage algorithms were among the updates and are now being taught by HEMB as part of the said training.

However, both triage algorithms are used as part of field medical triage during mass casualty incidents, where resources are always limited and the principle of saving as many lives as possible is a priority.

Furthermore, the triaging of emergency patients within the framework of the HEMB-national Patient and Navigation Center (NPNRC) is conducted through a tele triage system, a pivotal component of its patient navigation and referral processes. This method of triage is executed with a comprehensive consideration of individual medical cases, categorizing them into emergent, urgent and non urgent classifications based on their respective severities.

1. Emergent cases - distinctly characterized by unstable patient conditions requiring immediate medical attention, ideally within a timeframe of one hour, and under no circumstances exceeding three hours. This category encompasses several to critical cases such as strokes, heart attacks, and other life threatening conditions.

2. Urgent cases - pertain to stable patient conditions that necessitate medical attention within a window of 10 to 12 hours. These individuals are deemed admissible in a health facility, requiring prompt but less immediate intervention compared to emergent cases.

3. Non-urgent cases - pertain to stable patient conditions that can be effectively managed either in the outpatient department or through teleconsultations. This designation acknowledges the lower level of urgency associated with these cases, allowing for a more flexible and non-immediate approach to their care.

During the tele-triage cases, crucial parameters are meticulously assesses to ascertain the urgency and appropriate level of care required for each case. These parameters encompasses the chief complaint, level of consciousness, vital signs, pain scale, severity of signs and symptoms and onset of illness. Each parameter serves as a critical piece of information in the systematic evaluation of the patient's condition.

In essence, the tele-triage system employed by the HEMB-NPNRC ensures a methodical and prioritized approach to the diverse range of medical cases it encounters, aligning the allocation of resources and medical attention with the acuity of each individual's condition.

The systems and procedures for triaging emergency patients are included in the Manual of Standards and Guidelines in the Management of the Hospital Emergency Department, Second Edition.

You may likewise refer to the Procedures Manual for Government Hospital 3rd Edition, for the emergency department's general workflow including triage procedures.

The above mentioned manuals may be accessed through the link: http://bit.ly/DOHHFDBManuals

Kindly accomplish the FOI Feedback form at the link:
https://bit.ly/DOHFOIFeedbackForm

Thank you

Your right to request a review


If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI
request, you may ask us to carry out an internal
review of the response by writing to the Central
Appeals and Review Committee, at
foi@doh.gov.ph. Your review request should
explain why you are dissatisfied with this
response, and should be made within 15 calendar
days from the date when you received this letter.
We will complete the review and tell you the
result within 30 calendar days from the date
when we receive your review request.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).

Thank you.

Respectfully,

FOI Decision Maker
FOI Receiving Officer