Certified Medical Assistant (CMA AAMA)Clinical Workflow and Patient IntakeMedium
Four patients arrive at an urgent care clinic within minutes of each other. Using triage principles, which patient should be assessed by the provider first?
- AA 30-year-old requesting a refill of maintenance medication
- BA 60-year-old reporting crushing chest pain and diaphoresis
- CA 45-year-old with a twisted ankle rating pain 6/10
- DA 10-year-old with a low-grade fever and mild cough
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. A 60-year-old reporting crushing chest pain and diaphoresis
Triage prioritizes patients based on the severity and life-threatening nature of symptoms. Crushing chest pain with diaphoresis suggests possible acute cardiac event and requires immediate evaluation, outranking musculoskeletal, mild febrile, or administrative concerns.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A medication refill request is non-urgent and can wait.
- C. An ankle injury, while painful, is not immediately life-threatening.
- D. A mild fever and cough in a child is a lower acuity complaint.
Triage Prioritization
The process of ranking patients for care based on the urgency and severity of their condition.
- Life-threatening symptoms (chest pain, difficulty breathing) are highest priority
- Stable, non-urgent complaints are seen last
- Triage decisions protect patient safety and clinic efficiency
Memory trick: 'Chest pain trumps the rest of the pack.'