What is the primary goal of triage in a medical setting?

The primary goal of triage in a medical setting is to determine the relative priority of patient needs. Triage is a process used to categorize patients based on the severity of their conditions and the urgency of their medical needs. This is essential in situations where resources are limited, such as in emergency departments or during mass casualty incidents, ensuring that those who require immediate care receive it first.

By prioritizing patients, healthcare providers can effectively allocate their time and resources, providing timely treatment to those in the most critical condition while managing the flow of less urgent cases. Although other functions like paperwork management or screening for allergies are important for overall patient care, they do not align with the primary purpose of triage, which focuses specifically on assessing and prioritizing patient needs based on clinical urgency.