PATIENT PRIORITIZATION

Staff should be prepared to evacuate from the area all patients, along with visitors and staff, according to the level of acuity of the patients.

Evacuation Level 4: Self-sufficient patients. Patients who are ambulatory, require minimal nursing care and are candidates for rapid discharge to home or to a temporary shelter(s).

Evacuation Level 3: Ambulatory patients. Patients who require moderate nursing care and require assistance in evacuation.

Evacuation Level 2: Non-ambulatory patients. Patients who require frequent supportive nursing care and observation (e.g. post-operative patients, step-down unit patients).

Evacuation Level 1: Non-ambulatory patients. Patients who require continuous nursing care and observation (i.e. ICU, Telemetry, isolation rooms and other patients with special needs)

This numbering system is used to be in compliance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) where a higher number indicates a lesser degree of intensity and a lower number indicates a higher degree of intensity.