News

Too many Americans have experienced the health-related consequences and anxieties that follow a diagnostic error - a diagnosis that is either delayed, poorly communicated, or just plain wrong. Granted, diagnosis can be difficult given the complexities and ambiguities of medical care, and variations in symptoms from one patient to another. Some signs suggest that progress is occurring. However, reliable estimates indicate that diagnostic errors nevertheless remain far too common. One in 20 adults annually experiences a diagnostic error in outpatient settings. An estimated 250,000 diagnostic errors occur annually in U.S. hospitals. Regardless of the setting, diagnostic errors can derail proper care and may lead to severe injury or death. These issues have been amplified by COVID-19 and its impact on caregivers and the healthcare delivery system. AHRQ's newest clinical tool - Measure Dx - is an essential addition to the inventory of resources that can help prevent diagnostic errors. Measure Dx is available to any healthcare organization interested in promoting diagnostic excellence. Too many Americans have experienced the health-related consequences and anxieties that follow a diagnostic error - a diagnosis that is either delayed, poorly communicated, or just plain wrong. Granted, diagnosis can be difficult given the complexities and ambiguities of medical care, and variations in symptoms from one patient to another. Some signs suggest that progress is occurring. However, reliable estimates indicate that diagnostic errors nevertheless remain far too common. One in 20 adults annually experiences a diagnostic error in outpatient settings. An estimated 250,000 diagnostic errors occur annually in U.S. hospitals. Regardless of the setting, diagnostic errors can derail proper care and may lead to severe injury or death. These issues have been amplified by COVID-19 and its impact on caregivers and the healthcare delivery system. AHRQ's newest clinical tool - Measure Dx - is an essential addition to the inventory of resources that can help prevent diagnostic errors. Measure Dx is available to any healthcare organization interested in promoting diagnostic excellence.