Table 2: Triage Evaluation: Algorithm

Table 2:
Triage Evaluation:
	Emergency	vs.	Uncontrolled Hypertension
Blood Pressure	>220/140 mm Hg		>180/120 mm Hg
Symptoms	SOB Chest Pain nocturia dysarthia weakness altered consciousness		Headache SOB epistaxis edema often asymptomatic
Examination	encephalopathy pulmonary edema renal insufficiency cerebrovascular accident acute coronary syndrome		may have TOD clinical CVD present stable, often no TOD/CVD
Therapy	baseline laboratory tests intravenous line monitor BP may initiate therapy in ED		observe initiate/resume medication(s) increase dose of inadequate agent
Plan	Immediate admission to monitored unit parenteral agents treat to initial goal BP additional diagnostic studies if needed		arrange follow-up <24 hours to several days if no prior evaluation, schedule appointment