Over Triage: Injury Classification Mistake or Hindsight Bias?

Abstract

Patient triage is a critical stage in providing patients with the appropriate level of care required. Multiple metrics are considered in determining appropriate triage at the time of assessment. Due to the complexity of healthcare intervention, patients are often under- or over-triaged. Initiatives to reduce incorrect triages have been developed and implemented. These initiatives, however, may be based on hindsight bias and subsequently result in inaccurate assessments of triage accuracy and lead to improper triage-based education initiatives. This submission proposes the application of the SEIPS framework as a method of mitigating challenges introduced in the triage accuracy assessments due to this potential hindsight bias.