Which term refers to a system of sorting and classifying patients; determines the order in which patients receive medical attention?

• A. Triage
• B. Touch
• C. Totality of circumstances
• D. Telegraphing

Answer: (A)

Triage is the system for sorting patients by how urgently they need care and deciding the order in which they receive treatment. In emergencies or settings with limited medical resources, triage helps save the most lives by quickly identifying those who are critically ill or injured and need immediate intervention, while those with less urgent needs can wait. The aim is to allocate attention and resources efficiently to maximize outcomes. The other terms don’t fit because they describe different ideas—touch is physical contact, totality of circumstances is a broad decision framework not specific to prioritizing care, and telegraphing means signaling a message.