nonurgent

Nonurgent is an adjective used to describe a matter that does not require immediate action or attention. It is commonly used in medicine, administration, and project management to distinguish between time-sensitive matters and those that can be scheduled or deferred.

In healthcare, nonurgent is part of triage and appointment systems. In emergency departments, patients with nonurgent conditions are typically given lower priority than those with urgent or emergent needs. Nonurgent cases include routine follow-ups, minor illnesses, and elective procedures. The designation aims to optimize resource use and reduce patient crowding, though it can raise concerns about delays or access to care when conditions worsen.

In nonmedical contexts, nonurgent tasks are those that do not affect near-term outcomes, such as routine maintenance, administrative chores, or backlog items. Effective management involves categorizing work by urgency and importance, establishing service levels, and scheduling or deferring nonurgent tasks to match capacity and risk.

The term is descriptive rather than diagnostic and its meaning can vary by institution or system. Some guidelines use nonurgent or elective as synonyms. When interpreting nonurgent classifications, local policies and context should be consulted.