A numerical method of evaluating and categorizing hospital emergency departments.

The capabilities of individual hospital emergency departments participating in an emergency medical services system must be evaluated as the first step im improving the services in the region. By means of a weighted point-scoring method, personnel, facilities, equipment and organization can be assessed and the department categorized. This not only provides an evaluation of the present status of the department but also sets standards for improvement. Categorization provides the basis for regionalization of services, whereby each department has a defined responsibility to provide treatment of specified sophistication.