Safety recommendations to address diagnostic errors

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Oct. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Reducing diagnostic errors (such as missed, delayed or wrong diagnoses) is a major challenge for most healthcare organizations. The complexity of defining and measuring diagnostic errors poses challenges in developing solutions compared to other types of patient safety concerns. A need exists for pragmatic guidance for healthcare organizations to address diagnostic errors. 

A new study in the November 2022 issue of The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, “Developing the Safer Dx Checklist of Ten Safety Recommendations for Healthcare Organizations to Address Diagnostic Errors,” identified potential practices based on literature reviews, reports by national and international organizations, interviews with quality/safety leaders and input from additional experts. 

After preparing an initial list of practices, the researchers conducted a Delphi expert panel, followed by an online expert panel, to prioritize 10 practices. The prioritization process considered impact on patient safety and feasibility of practice implementation with a one- to three-year time frame. The top 10 practices were developed into a checklist paired with implementation guidance, which was followed by cognitive walkthroughs of the checklist for a face-validity check with end users. Data from each study step was analyzed to look for themes related to prioritization or checklist implementation. 

A total of 71 practices for prioritization were identified through the Delphi panel of 28 experts; 65% of participants reached consensus on 28 practices. The multidisciplinary panel of 10 experts helped prioritize and refine the top 10 practices, which highlighted the following focus areas to help healthcare organizations address diagnostic error:

1. Organizational leadership builds a “board-to-bedside” accountability framework
2. A just culture and psychologically safe environment for diagnostic safety
3. Creation of…