Exploring the Application of Colour Coding For Quality Health Care

Abstract

Colour coding is defined as the systematic, standard application of color to aid in classification and identification.¹ Colour coding in health care is mainly used for better enhancement, differentiation, systematic classification. Colour coding is used in various fields of medicine for different purpose. Techniques used commonly are colour differentiation and colour matching.²

Colour coded growth chart is an important tool for the classification of malnutrition and used as a diagnostic aid for Health care workers and educational tool for mother in child care.³ Rapid categorization of victims during mass casualties follows colour coding and decides medical action required. Red tag indicates critical patients demanding immediate action, yellow tag indicates non-ambulatory patients between critical and minor categories requiring urgent action, green tag for ambulatory patients who need minor care and black tag implies expired patients.⁴