Which of the following best describes the main objective of triage?

The main objective of triage is to prioritize patient care based on urgency and severity. Triage is a critical process used in many healthcare settings, especially in emergency and disaster situations, to ensure that patients receive care in a timely manner according to their medical needs. By assessing the severity of each patient's condition, healthcare providers can allocate limited resources effectively and ensure that those who need immediate medical attention are seen first. This helps to improve outcomes and can potentially save lives, particularly in situations where there are more patients than available resources.

Assigning healthcare providers to patients, determining the best time for surgery, and collecting patient discharge information are important functions in healthcare but do not directly address the essential purpose of triage, which centers specifically on evaluating and prioritizing patient conditions.