over-triage
The inappropriate activation of trauma team resources for patients who do not require the highest level of trauma care.
Full Definition
Over-triage occurs when trauma activation criteria identify patients as requiring full trauma team response when their injuries are less severe than the criteria suggest. While some degree of over-triage is considered acceptable to avoid missing critically injured patients (under-triage), excessive over-triage leads to resource inefficiency and team fatigue. The American College of Surgeons suggests that over-triage rates should not exceed 50%. In editorial contexts, over-triage discussions often involve quality improvement initiatives, cost-effectiveness analyses, and trauma system performance metrics. The term requires careful distinction from under-triage and appropriate triage decisions.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate; express rates as percentages in quality metrics.
In Context
- "The institution's over-triage rate of 65% exceeded ACS-COT recommended benchmarks." — Performance improvement report
- "Strategies to reduce over-triage must balance resource efficiency with patient safety." — Trauma system analysis