overtriage

Definitions

An inaccurately high prehospital triage value assigned to a set of symptoms or an injury, assessing it as being more severe or traumatic than it truly is; the administrative or societal burden caused by such miscalibration, such as wait times in emergency departments.

countable, uncountable

Examples

“As emergency medicine doctors, we regularly give⟳ medical advice to family and close⟳ friends when they get⟳ sick or are injured and don't know⟳ what to do. In a matter⟳ of moments, we triage, diagnose, and assemble a logical plan⟳, whatever the issue⟳ may be. […] Frankly, it's a service everyone should have⟳. Think⟳ about the potential time and money saved if this option for medical care and triage was broadly available. Overtriage would plummet. That's when people run⟳ to the emergency department (ED) and wait⟳ endless hours, only to be reassured or receive⟳ limited treatment. Undertriage would also decline⟳. That's when people should go to the ED but, unwisely, wait⟳. For example, this may occur⟳ when symptoms of dizziness end⟳ up being a stroke.”

CEFR level