Description Discussion, clarification, elaboration
Failure modes,
risks, barriers
Supportive
materials, standards,
references,
guidelines,
best practices,
resources, links
K LATENCY
68 Zero “Please help me transfer this patient from
bed to chair.”
“This is Mr. Jones.”
69 Minimal “Follow this hall to the Radiology
Department.”
“Here’s a cup for your urine specimen;
bring it back to the nurses’ station.”
70 Short “We’ll have the results of your biopsy in a
week.”
71 Intermediate “Your baby is due in 8 months.”
“Come back next year for a mammogram.”
Ongoing or intervening
modification of tasks/
needs
Standard pre-natal
record
72 Long “You should repeat your colonoscopy in 10
years.”
Record storage,
access, Task tracking,
reminders
73 Indeterminate “You have a 22% chance your cancer will
recur in your lifetime.”
Task tracking
L COMPLEXITY
74 Minimal e.g., discharge home from dental office
after uneventful tooth extraction under IV
sedation
Complexity may
change; Receiver may
not have necessary
resources
75 Low e.g., transfer to rehab from hospital after
total knee replacement
76 Moderate e.g., air ambulance pickup of critically ill
newborn
77 High e.g., rural internist refers non-English-
speaking pregnant woman with multiple
sclerosis, no insurance, prior premature
labor, twin pregnancy, epilepsy for OB care
200 miles from home
May involve
multiple transfers,
complex team,
communications, etc.
e.g., Mountain rescue of climber with
possible cervical fracture; spine board,
hypothermia risk; hazard to rescuers;
helicopter, costs
78 Extreme e.g., Decompensating Ebola patient
transported from West Africa to facility in
USA.
High demand for
resources, specialized
knowledge,
equipment, etc.
M PRIORITY
79 Low Workers Compensation evaluation of
chronic back pain
80 Medium Referral for suspected early renal failure
