Jan

19

2026

Module 4 — Interactive Exercise: Sorting Data Into Orientation, Thinking, Execution in Competing Harms

By William Aird

1. How this module fits in Consult Practice

LensWhat it contributes here
OrientationSorts facts that define the terrain (tempo, stability, recency of thrombosis)
ThinkingSorts statements of weighting and trade-off discipline
ExecutionSorts visible actions, triggers, and communication moves

2. What this module is for

To practice: “Which facts define the map, which statements define posture, and which statements are execution?”

3. How to use this module

Run it in 2–3 minutes on rounds. After sorting, ask: “What would change the posture?”

4. Why this matters

In competing harms, teams often jump to execution without shared posture, or jump to posture without correct terrain. Sorting enforces discipline.

5. Core Content

A. Sorting cards

  1. “Hemoglobin fell from 9.5 to 7.2 in 8 hours.”
  2. “Last dose of apixaban was this morning.”
  3. “The patient is tachycardic and borderline hypotensive.”
  4. “Pulmonary embolism occurred 6 days ago.”
  5. “This is a competing-harms problem with asymmetric risks.”
  6. “Bleeding is the dominant immediate threat right now.”
  7. “We will revise weight as trajectory declares itself.”
  8. “Hold further anticoagulation while bleeding is active.”
  9. “Please call us immediately if bleeding worsens or there is instability.”
  10. “Now that bleeding has stopped and hemoglobin is stable, thrombotic vulnerability deserves more weight.”

B. Answer key

CardDomainRationale
1Orientationtempo and severity define terrain
2Orientationanticoagulant timing shapes terrain
3Orientationstability defines urgency tolerance
4Orientationthrombotic recency defines competing-harms intensity
5Thinkingidentifies posture type
6Thinkingassigns provisional weight
7Thinkingcommits to revisability
8Executionvisible behavior aligned with stance
9Executionexplicit triggers and alignment
10Executioncommunicated recalibration

6. Bottom line

Sorting protects the framework: Orientation defines map, Thinking assigns weight, Execution makes judgment visible. In competing harms, this discipline prevents premature closure and unsafe drift.