What is telephone sorting?

Telephone sorting is the system by which operators on medical hot lines analyze information provided by callers and submit proposals for forms of medical aid that may be needed. This is somewhat similar to standard forms of sorting in which the patient's priority for treatment is evaluated on the basis of medical needs. However, rather than evaluate which patients they need most, this type of sorting is used to evaluate the severity of the symptoms of the callers and then provides recommendations on how to proceed in medical care. However, telephone sorting is often subject to criticism and debate, because operators do not necessarily have to be trained by doctors. TRIAGE, in general, is a methodology in which patients in the hospital or at an emergency are evaluated and assigned by a priority for medical attention and care. This is worked out on the basis of the severity of the disease or injury that the individual received. On the other hand, telephone sorting is used to analyze symptoms or descriptions of the conditions described by the caller over the phoneto the operator and then the recommendation for the action.

This type of telephone sorting is often used by medical hotline operators that people may require medical attention or assistance. The caller usually provides a description of the symptoms they have or the nature of the particular injury that has been suffered. Using this information, the operator then provides the caller's recommendations on what type of action he should do for further medical assistance.

Standard sorting procedures usually lead to four priorities for patients: deceased, necessary immediate care, necessary delayed care or minor injuries that are not a priority. The phone also usually results in four possible recommendations for those who call, depending on the information provided to the callers. The operator on the hot line of medical assistance can recommend methods for self -care at home, make a recommendation to the primary care physician, to file a caller on SPECialist or submit a recommendation to a device for emergency care.

However, there is some controversy about using telephone sorting, for many reasons. The operators of these hot lines are not necessarily trained by doctors and can simply follow a script or basic medical attention instructions. Since people call for the Medical Council, the proposals submitted can be considered as a diagnosis and proposed treatment. Therefore, the use of telephone sorting can be unlawful in some areas and has been questioned for legal reasons.