In what context is the term 'ancillary' typically used?

The term 'ancillary' is commonly used in healthcare to describe services, support, or materials that are supplementary to primary or principal medical care. In this context, it is often associated with biomedical research, where ancillary services or research activities support the primary research aims. These could involve services such as laboratory tests, imaging, or other supportive procedures that assist in the broader array of clinical research but are not the main focus of the research itself.

When considering other contexts, 'ancillary' does not primarily align with patient healthcare needs, emergency responses, or primary care services, as these areas generally focus on direct care and urgent medical interventions rather than the supportive or supplementary nature of ancillary services.