Appendix 1
MALAYSIAN TRIAGE CATEGORY (MTC): DESCRIPTORS FOR CATEGORIES
The Malaysian Triage Category (MTC) is designed for use in Kementerian
Kesihatan Hospital emergency services throughout Malaysia. It is a scale for
rating clinical urgency. The scale directly relates triage category with a range of
outcome measures (inpatient length of stay, ICU admission, mortality rate) and
resource consumption (staff time, cost). It provides an opportunity for analysis of
a number of performance parameters in the Emergency Department.
Triage Category Response Description of Category
RED Assessment and Conditions that are
treatment within 5 threats to life (or
minutes imminent risk of
(assessment and deterioration) and
treatment often require immediate
simultaneous) aggressive intervention.
Or
The patient's condition is
serious enough or
deteriorating so rapidly
that there is the potential
of threat to life, or organ
system failure, if not
treated within 15 minutes
of arrival
Or
The potential for time-
critical treatment (e.g.
thrombolysis, antidote) to
make a significant effect
on clinical outcome
depends on treatment
commencing within a few
minutes of the patient's
arrival in the ED
YELLOW Assessment and The patient's condition
treatment start may progress to life or
within 30 minutes limb threatening, or may
Clinical Descriptors (indicative only)
 All chest pain
 All referred cases of acute myocardial infarction or unstable
Angina
 All dyspnoea of saturation < 95 % and respiration of 25 per
min
 All patients with Airway compromise e.g/ gasping, severe
maxillofacial injuries and comatosed patients
 Severe Asthma and COAD
 All cardio respiratory patients
 Shock e.g. hypovolemic or cardiogenic patients
 BP of 220/130 without symptoms
 High BP with symptoms and impending stroke or blurring of
vision
 Patients with BP Systolic 90 and below and Heart Rate of
120 and below
 All cases of convulsions and fit
 D/ Stix High with CNS involvement
 Abdominal pain and not stable patient in shock
 Triple A and suspected intra abdominal injury
 Fever with shock
 All unstable Ectopic pregnancy
 Bilateral fracture femur
 Unstable pelvic fracture
 Polytrauma patients
 All trauma cases with chest injuries
 All gunshot wound/ penetrating wound in the neck , chest
and abdomen
 All head injuries with GCS of 13 and below
 All cases of burns with Airway compromise e.g. facial and
lower neck
 All cases of third degree burns > 25 % body surface and
burns on face and thorat
 Victims of alleged drowning
 All vascular injuries or impairment
 Triple A (Abdominal Aneuratic Aneurysm) and intra
abdominal injuries
 Neonates and babies with Heart Rate of 210 min and Resp
60 min or evidence of respiratory compr9mise, wheezing
and stridor
1. Trauma patients with GCS of 14/15
2. Trauma patients with unequal pupils with GCS of 15/15
3. Trauma patients with lower limb fracture but stable e.g. Tib
 lead to significant Fib #, Femur # and stable Spinal and Pelvic fracture
morbidity, if assessment 4. Near total Amputated limb with stable BP
and treatment are not 5. Dislocation with inability to walk e.g. knee
commenced within thirty 6. Second degree burn of 15 – 25 % body surface in adults
minutes of arrival and 10 –20 % surface area in children not involving face
and throat
7. Third degree burn of 10 % body surface area
or
8. Alleged poisoning cases or Drug overdose with stable BP
and GCS of 14/15
There is potential for 9. Severe abdominal pain or severe uretheric Colic or
adverse outcome if time- backache
critical treatment is not 10. Ca patients – toxic looking and dehydrated
commenced within thirty 11. Severe bleeding with stable BP and normal Pulse Rate
minutes 12. Vomiting or diarrhea and lethargic of paediatric age 2years
– 12 years and adults age less than 65 years and not able
to walk but BP and Pulse stable
13. Vomiting continuously with BP systolic of < 100
14. Dyspnoea < 25 per min
15. Dyspnoea with saturation of > 95 % and respiration Rate of
20 –25
16. Hyperventilation and unable to walk
or 17. BP of <220/ 120 without symptoms
18. High grade fever > 40 degrees, toxic looking and
Humane practice dehydrated but BP and Pulse stable
mandates the relief of 19. Migraine unable to walk
severe discomfort or 20. Severe epitaxis
distress 21. Change of catheter and patients on trolley

GREEN Assessment and The patient's condition G1 This is the FAST LINE
treatment start may deteriorate, or 1. Children less than 1 years
within 90 minutes adverse outcome may 2. Senior citizen more than 65 years
result, if assessment and 3. Acute Back pain/Flank pain
treatment is not 4. Dislocation of shoulder and ankle not in severe pain
commenced within one 5. OSCC (Rape. Battered, Child Abuse0
hour of arrival in ED. 6. Acute Exacerbation Bronchial Asthma (mild to
Symptoms moderate or moderate)
prolonged. 7. Fracture with severe deformity of upper limbs and ankle
8. Post seizures pt is stable with one episode of seizure
and temp < 38
or
9. Capillary Blood Sugar – High but is asymptomatic

There is potential for

adverse outcome if time- G2 Patients requiring initial management or First
critical treatment is not Aid before seen by doctor
commenced within hour 1. All stable upper limb fracture and ankle fracture requiring
immobilization
2. Minor dislocation able to walk e.g. involving jaw and
or extremities
3. All patients requiring catheterization (Acute Retention of
Likely to require complex Urine)., Foreign Body removal and pressure bandage
work-up and consultation 4. POP complication
and/or inpatient 5. Moderate bleeding but stable and need dressing
management 6. Partial thickness burn Adults < 10 % , paediatric < 10 %
7. Eye pain with blurring of vision
8. Staff HKL
or

Humane practice G3 Patients who can wait

mandates the relief of 1. Minor injuries e.g. Soft Tissue injury. Abrasions, no active
discomfort or distress bleeding.
within one hour 2. Trauma pts with loss of consciousness less than 5
minutes with full GCS
3. Moderate ureteric pain
4. Acute gastroenteritis with stable Blood Pressure
5. Hyperventilation able to walk.
6. Partial thickness burn 10 %- 15 %
7. Hyperventilation able to walk
8. Nail prick
G4 OPD (cold cases) seen at Emergency Department
1. All trauma patients > 6 months
2. Fever less than 38 degrees and below – children age
between 2year to 12 years and adults < than 65 years.
3. Skin disease except Steven Johnson disease exfoliating
dermatitis, uticaria and allergic
4. Back pain but stable
5. Slight abdominal pain but able to walk with vital sign
stable
6. History of vomiting
7. Food poisoning but pt is stable