News

May 25, 2021

Working Together to Improve Diagnosis: Day One Recap

Thanks for attending the first day of our virtual conference: Working Together to Improve Diagnosis! Day One had a Systems Focus.

KEYNOTE: DEFINING THE LANDSCAPE AND SETTING THE AGENDA FOR DIAGNOSTIC ERRORS: WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO ACHIEVE DIAGNOSTIC EXCELLENCE

  • Dr. David Newman-Toker, MD, identified that the root causes of diagnostic errors are complex and the majority are caused by weak links in the diagnostic process that happen at the bedside. He also shared that diagnostic error is the most underfunded public health crisis in America. Monitoring diagnostic performance and giving feedback is necessary to improve clinician diagnostic accuracy. Dr. Newman-Toker advised the 4 T’s to transform diagnosis: Teamwork, Training, Technology & Tuning.

EXPLORING SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS DIAGNOSTIC ERROR

  • Dana Siegal, RN, CPHRM, CPPS, illustrated how diagnosis-related claims result in higher severity injuries and greater financial loss than others. She identified that missed opportunities early in the diagnostic process significantly affect the trajectory (differential diagnosis, test ordering) of ambulatory-based patient care. Solutions to reduce Dx error must address both human and system vulnerabilities of the decision-making process: raise awareness; enhance teamwork and communication; support cognitive processes; and build strong systems.

THE EMOTIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL COST OF HARM

  • Julia Prentice, PhD, shared how studies consistently show that patients and families are excellent observers of medical error and are more likely than the clinical team to detect errors, but are often reluctant to speak up. Medical errors impact patient and family finances, result in the need for additional care, are associated with long‐lasting physical impacts, and are associated with long-lasting impacts on emotional health. Ultimately, medical errors lead to distrust in health care system.

There's still time to register for Day Two and Day Three!