Diagnostic delay often shows up as a pattern, not a single moment. In communities across the Colorado Front Range, it’s common for care to move between urgent care, primary care, imaging centers, and specialists—sometimes with results sitting in an electronic system while follow-up gets delayed.
Some examples we commonly see in cases like these:
- Abnormal imaging results not acted on quickly (e.g., a report is generated, but the patient isn’t told in time to return promptly).
- Persistent symptoms after an initial “routine” workup (the first visit may rule out something serious, but follow-up doesn’t escalate when symptoms continue).
- Referral or follow-up instructions that aren’t effectively completed (appointments are scheduled late, or key recommendations aren’t communicated clearly).
- Misinterpretation or incomplete review of lab work, pathology, or radiology impressions—especially when the underlying issue evolves.
The key question isn’t whether the outcome was unfortunate. The question is whether the diagnostic process and follow-up were reasonable given what clinicians knew at the time.


