ALGORITHMS IN THE EARLY MANAGEMENT OF SEV ERELY INJURED PATIENTS

A well-controlled, meticulous process has a far higher probability of resulting in a high quality of medical care than improvisation and uns tructured creativity. Algorithms display decision-making treatment pro cesses and problem-solving strategies by giving clearly defined and fo rmalized guidelines. The flow chart for decision-making follows the ye s/no dichotomy of binary logic. The systematic ordering of decision po ints and consequent actions is guided by medical priority and thus reg ulates the time-frame and sequence of each single step in a logical ma nner. With the help of clinical algorithms highly complex processes su ch as the management of the severely injured patient can be translated into a clearly structured, logical pathway. Clinical algorithms repre sent scientifically recognized treatment rules, indicate a solution fo r solving problems and help users to organize ideas and recognize conn ections. They delineate a consistent and valid guideline, while allowi ng deviations in proven exceptions. The use of algorithms allows a sys tematic search for errors in the process of quality management. In eme rgency situations they suggest a structured means of problem solving f or the less experienced user. Algorithms are useful instruments in the teaching of medical decisionmaking.