Exploring the Management of the Triage System in the Screening of Patients: The Case of Emergency Health Services in Portugal
Exploring the Management of the Triage System in the Screening of Patients: The Case of Emergency Health Services in Portugal

Summary/Abstract: Purpose: This study examines the effectiveness and management of triage systems, particularly the Manchester Triage System (MTS), in Portuguese emergency services. It explores how current screening practices align with the intended goals of prioritizing critical patients and managing limited healthcare resources effectively. Design/Method/Approach: A qualitative research design was adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals working in emergency departments in Portugal. Thematic analysis was used to compare frontline experiences with theoretical insights from existing literature, enabling a contextual evaluation of the MTS's operational effectiveness. Findings: The Manchester Triage System was found to be broadly valid and functional. However, professionals identified issues such as delayed diagnostics, lack of material resources, and inconsistent adherence to triage priorities. Key suggestions included refining workflow structures, improving digital systems, and enhancing nurse training in Basic and Advanced Life Support. Practical Implications: Findings highlight the need to restructure emergency departments by separating high- and low-priority cases more clearly, ensuring rapid access to appropriate care. Improvements in staff allocation, training, and IT infrastructure could significantly reduce waiting times and improve patient flow. Social Implications: Enhancing triage effectiveness has the potential to improve patient satisfaction, reduce health inequalities in emergency care delivery, and alleviate burnout among medical staff. It also ensures that critical patients receive timely intervention, which can save lives and improve outcomes. Originality/Value: This paper contributes original insights into the operational challenges and strengths of triage implementation in Portugal. By integrating practitioner perspectives with policy analysis, the study offers a pragmatic roadmap for optimizing triage system management in emergency health services. Research Limitations/Future Research: This study's insights are limited by its qualitative nature and relatively small sample size, which restricts generalizability. Future research incorporating quantitative approaches and larger datasets would provide a broader basis for evaluating triage effectiveness across varied hospital settings. Paper Type: Empirical

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