Table 1.

Triage System in Hong Kong Accident and Emergency Departments

Triage Category	Patient Conditions	Actions of Staff Target	Response Time
1 (Critical)
	•Suffers from a life-threatening condition(s) caused by a major event •With unstable vital signs requiring immediate •resuscitation	•Direct patient to resuscitation room •Attend patient immediately by a team comprising medical and nursing staff	•Immediate •100% of cases within the target response time
2 (Emergency)
	•Suffers from a potentially life-threatening condition •Borderline vital signs but with potential risk of rapid deterioration •Requires emergency treatment and immediate continuous close monitoring	•Direct patient to resuscitation room/treatment cubicle •Offer medical attention and immediate continuous close monitoring within 15 min	•<15 min •95% of cases within the target response time
3 (Urgent)
	•Suffers from a major condition with potential risk of deterioration •Stable vital signs	•Direct patient to cubicle	•<30 min •90% of cases within the target response time
4 (Semi-urgent)
	•Suffers from acute but stable condition(s) •Stable vital signs •Can afford to wait some time without serious complications	•Direct patient to cubicle/walk-in clinic
5 (Non-urgent)
	•Suffers from minor and stable condition(s) (including acute and non-acute conditions) •Stable vital signs •Can afford to wait without risk of deterioration		•Direct patient to cubicle/walk-in clinic