Diagnostic errors have emerged as a major patient safety concern. Research has shown unacceptable rates of diagnostic errors in acute care, ambulatory care, and emergency care.1-9 For example, an estimated 5 percent of the U.S. adult population experiences a diagnostic error in the outpatient setting every year,1 and approximately 0.7 percent of inpatients experience harm from a diagnostic error.2 These estimates are consistent with data from the general public about diagnostic errors.10,11
The field of diagnostic safety has developed rapidly over the past decade. The 2015 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report “Improving Diagnosis in Health Care” highlighted the problem and accelerated progress to address diagnostic safety.12
Increased funding from multiple sources, such as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation,13,14 has facilitated scientific progress. Efforts are ongoing to improve medical education and training specific to the diagnostic process, promote cultural changes to facilitate learning and improvement, and support use of information technology by providers and patients.12 Despite recent advances, diagnostic safety remains understudied and further research is warranted to understand the complexity of the diagnostic process and to devise next steps for research, practice, and policy.12,15
To accelerate progress in diagnostic safety science and improvement activities, we used two methods to identify major themes related to the current state of diagnostic safety and highlight key gaps in knowledge. The first was a rapid narrative review methodology to evaluate multiple resources in the literature and the second included interviews with experts. Findings have several implications for future resource investments to reduce harm from diagnostic errors.
