What is generally the first step in the triage process?

The first step in the triage process is a rapid assessment of patients. This initial evaluation is crucial because it allows healthcare providers to quickly identify the severity of each patient’s condition and prioritize care based on the urgency of their medical needs. During this assessment, triage staff look for life-threatening injuries or conditions that require immediate attention, often using a systematic approach to categorize patients according to the seriousness of their symptoms.

Establishing a treatment plan typically comes after triage has been conducted, as it relies on understanding the patient's condition, which is determined during the assessment phase. Determining patient registration details is important for administrative purposes but does not directly impact the clinical decision-making needed in emergencies. Transporting patients to the hospital is a critical part of emergency care, but it occurs after triage, based on the assessment's outcomes. Thus, starting with a rapid assessment is essential to ensuring that those who need urgent care receive it promptly.