A cached number can look current
If an interface shows yesterday's score during a failed refresh, the user may assume it reflects today's information. The value itself may be unchanged, but its timestamp and status are essential to interpretation.
The display should make the difference between a current result and a previous result visible.
Test ordinary failure paths
| Failure | Question for the workflow |
|---|---|
| One required field missing | Is the case rejected, handled by a validated rule, or flagged? |
| Data feed delayed | Is freshness checked before use? |
| Service unavailable | Is the fallback task assigned? |
| Partial recovery | Can old and new outputs be distinguished? |
The appropriate behavior depends on intended use and risk.
A default is a clinical assumption
Replacing a missing measurement with a normal value is not a neutral technical convenience. If imputation is part of the model, it needs to match the validated process and remain appropriate in deployment.
Users also need a clear route when the system is unavailable. The absence of an alert should never be allowed to imply that the system assessed the case and found no concern when no valid assessment occurred.
