Interagency Integrated Triage Tool

Overview

Acuity-based triage is the action of sorting and prioritizing patients based on the estimation of the urgency for intervention. This approach is used as the basis for identification of those patients who require immediate medical intervention and those who can safely wait. Acuity-based triage is the standard method of sorting patients in medical settings and can be performed at any point of access to the health care system, including in both pre-hospital ambulance services, busy outpatient clinics and hospitals.

emergencycare@who.int

Tool

The Interagency Integrated Triage Tool (IITT) is a triage tool developed in collaboration between WHO, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to provide an integrated set of protocols for routine triage of adults and children and for mass casualty conditions. The IITT is intended to be used for facility-based triage within emergency units and incorporates and updates previous WHO guidance for sorting patients by acuity (e.g. Emergency Triage and Treatment). The tool is designed around a three-colour system: red (high acuity; need to be seen immediately), yellow (moderate acuity; need to be seen soon), and green (low acuity; can wait).

Routine Triage

For use under routine conditions, the IITT includes one tool for older children and adults, one for children < 12 years, and a reference card that defines high-risk signs.

Interagency Integrated Triage Tool: Age ≥ 12

Interagency Integrated Triage Tool: Age < 12

Interagency Integrated Triage: Reference card

Translations

IITT Arabic

IITT French

IITT Spanish

Mass Casualty Triage

A mass casualty incident (MCI) is an event that generates more patients, often with higher acuity, than a health facility can manage using its usual resources and procedures. Mass Casualty - Interagency Integrated Triage Tool (MC - IITT) guides patient prioritization in facilities during MCI conditions.

Mass Casualty - Interagency Integrated Triage Tool

Facility-Based Mass Casualty Triage: Guidance Note

Translations

MC - IITT Arabic

MC - IITT Farsi

MC - IITT French

MC - IITT Russian

MC - IITT Portuguese

MC - IITT Spanish

MC - IITT Ukrainian

Posters

All posters are A0 sized.

Routine Triage

The Triage and Treatment in the Emergency Unit posters (adult and paediatric) are intended for use in the triage area of emergency units. The posters integrate guidance from the IITT and the WHO Basic Emergency Care manual for early recognition and initiation of resuscitation for the acutely ill and injured.