Nela Krosnjar - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Nela Krosnjar
Archives of Internal Medicine, 2009
Missed or delayed diagnoses are a common but understudied area in patient safety research. To bet... more Missed or delayed diagnoses are a common but understudied area in patient safety research. To better understand the types, causes, and prevention of such errors, we surveyed clinicians to solicit perceived cases of missed and delayed diagnoses. A 6-item written survey was administered at 20 grand rounds presentations across the United States and by mail at 2 collaborating institutions. Respondents were asked to report 3 cases of diagnostic errors and to describe their perceived causes, seriousness, and frequency. A total of 669 cases were reported by 310 clinicians from 22 institutions. After cases without diagnostic errors or lacking sufficient details were excluded, 583 remained. Of these, 162 errors (28%) were rated as major, 241 (41%) as moderate, and 180 (31%) as minor or insignificant. The most common missed or delayed diagnoses were pulmonary embolism (26 cases [4.5% of total]), drug reactions or overdose (26 cases [4.5%]), lung cancer (23 cases [3.9%]), colorectal cancer (19 cases [3.3%]), acute coronary syndrome (18 cases [3.1%]), breast cancer (18 cases [3.1%]), and stroke (15 cases [2.6%]). Errors occurred most frequently in the testing phase (failure to order, report, and follow-up laboratory results) (44%), followed by clinician assessment errors (failure to consider and overweighing competing diagnosis) (32%), history taking (10%), physical examination (10%), and referral or consultation errors and delays (3%). Physicians readily recalled multiple cases of diagnostic errors and were willing to share their experiences. Using a new taxonomy tool and aggregating cases by diagnosis and error type revealed patterns of diagnostic failures that suggested areas for improvement. Systematic solicitation and analysis of such errors can identify potential preventive strategies.
Background: Diagnosis errors are frequent and important, but represent an underemphasized and und... more Background: Diagnosis errors are frequent and important, but represent an underemphasized and understudied area of patient safety. Diagnosis errors are challenging to detect and dissect. It is often difficult to agree whether an error has occurred, and even harder to determine with certainty its causes and consequence. The authors applied four safety paradigms: (1) diagnosis as part of a system, (2) less reliance on human memory, (3) need to open "breathing space" to reflect and discuss, (4) multidisciplinary perspectives and collaboration. Methods: The authors reviewed literature on diagnosis errors and developed a taxonomy delineating stages in the diagnostic process: (1) access and presentation, (2) history taking/collection, (3) the physical exam, (4) testing, (5) assessment, (6) referral, and followup. The taxonomy identifies where in the diagnostic process the failures occur. The authors used this approach to analyze diagnosis errors collected over a 3-year period of weekly case conferences and by a survey of physicians. Results: The authors summarize challenges encountered from their review of diagnosis error cases, presenting lessons learned using four prototypical cases. A recurring issue is the sorting-out of relationships among errors in the diagnostic process, delay and misdiagnosis, and adverse patient outcomes. To help understand these relationships, the authors present a model that identifies four key challenges in assessing potential diagnosis error cases: (1) uncertainties about diagnosis and findings, (2) the relationship between diagnosis failure and adverse outcomes, (3) challenges in reconstructing clinician assessment of the patient and clinician actions, and (4) global assessment of improvement opportunities. Conclusions and recommendations: Finally the authors catalogue a series of ideas for change. These include: reengineering followup of abnormal test results; standardizing protocols for reading x-rays/lab tests, particularly in training programs and after hours; identifying "red flag" and "don't miss" diagnoses and situations and use of manual and automated check-lists; engaging patients on multiple levels to become "coproducers" of safer medical diagnosis practices; and weaving "safety nets" to mitigate harm from uncertainties and errors in diagnosis. These change ideas need to be tested and implemented for more timely and error-free diagnoses.
Background: Missed or delayed diagnoses are a com- mon but understudied area in patient safety re... more Background: Missed or delayed diagnoses are a com- mon but understudied area in patient safety research. To better understand the types, causes, and prevention of such errors, we surveyed clinicians to solicit perceived cases of missed and delayed diagnoses. Methods: A 6-item written survey was administered at 20 grand rounds presentations across the United States and by mail at 2
Archives of internal medicine, Jan 9, 2009
Missed or delayed diagnoses are a common but understudied area in patient safety research. To bet... more Missed or delayed diagnoses are a common but understudied area in patient safety research. To better understand the types, causes, and prevention of such errors, we surveyed clinicians to solicit perceived cases of missed and delayed diagnoses. A 6-item written survey was administered at 20 grand rounds presentations across the United States and by mail at 2 collaborating institutions. Respondents were asked to report 3 cases of diagnostic errors and to describe their perceived causes, seriousness, and frequency. A total of 669 cases were reported by 310 clinicians from 22 institutions. After cases without diagnostic errors or lacking sufficient details were excluded, 583 remained. Of these, 162 errors (28%) were rated as major, 241 (41%) as moderate, and 180 (31%) as minor or insignificant. The most common missed or delayed diagnoses were pulmonary embolism (26 cases [4.5% of total]), drug reactions or overdose (26 cases [4.5%]), lung cancer (23 cases [3.9%]), colorectal cancer (19...
Archives of Internal Medicine, 2009
Missed or delayed diagnoses are a common but understudied area in patient safety research. To bet... more Missed or delayed diagnoses are a common but understudied area in patient safety research. To better understand the types, causes, and prevention of such errors, we surveyed clinicians to solicit perceived cases of missed and delayed diagnoses. A 6-item written survey was administered at 20 grand rounds presentations across the United States and by mail at 2 collaborating institutions. Respondents were asked to report 3 cases of diagnostic errors and to describe their perceived causes, seriousness, and frequency. A total of 669 cases were reported by 310 clinicians from 22 institutions. After cases without diagnostic errors or lacking sufficient details were excluded, 583 remained. Of these, 162 errors (28%) were rated as major, 241 (41%) as moderate, and 180 (31%) as minor or insignificant. The most common missed or delayed diagnoses were pulmonary embolism (26 cases [4.5% of total]), drug reactions or overdose (26 cases [4.5%]), lung cancer (23 cases [3.9%]), colorectal cancer (19 cases [3.3%]), acute coronary syndrome (18 cases [3.1%]), breast cancer (18 cases [3.1%]), and stroke (15 cases [2.6%]). Errors occurred most frequently in the testing phase (failure to order, report, and follow-up laboratory results) (44%), followed by clinician assessment errors (failure to consider and overweighing competing diagnosis) (32%), history taking (10%), physical examination (10%), and referral or consultation errors and delays (3%). Physicians readily recalled multiple cases of diagnostic errors and were willing to share their experiences. Using a new taxonomy tool and aggregating cases by diagnosis and error type revealed patterns of diagnostic failures that suggested areas for improvement. Systematic solicitation and analysis of such errors can identify potential preventive strategies.
Background: Diagnosis errors are frequent and important, but represent an underemphasized and und... more Background: Diagnosis errors are frequent and important, but represent an underemphasized and understudied area of patient safety. Diagnosis errors are challenging to detect and dissect. It is often difficult to agree whether an error has occurred, and even harder to determine with certainty its causes and consequence. The authors applied four safety paradigms: (1) diagnosis as part of a system, (2) less reliance on human memory, (3) need to open "breathing space" to reflect and discuss, (4) multidisciplinary perspectives and collaboration. Methods: The authors reviewed literature on diagnosis errors and developed a taxonomy delineating stages in the diagnostic process: (1) access and presentation, (2) history taking/collection, (3) the physical exam, (4) testing, (5) assessment, (6) referral, and followup. The taxonomy identifies where in the diagnostic process the failures occur. The authors used this approach to analyze diagnosis errors collected over a 3-year period of weekly case conferences and by a survey of physicians. Results: The authors summarize challenges encountered from their review of diagnosis error cases, presenting lessons learned using four prototypical cases. A recurring issue is the sorting-out of relationships among errors in the diagnostic process, delay and misdiagnosis, and adverse patient outcomes. To help understand these relationships, the authors present a model that identifies four key challenges in assessing potential diagnosis error cases: (1) uncertainties about diagnosis and findings, (2) the relationship between diagnosis failure and adverse outcomes, (3) challenges in reconstructing clinician assessment of the patient and clinician actions, and (4) global assessment of improvement opportunities. Conclusions and recommendations: Finally the authors catalogue a series of ideas for change. These include: reengineering followup of abnormal test results; standardizing protocols for reading x-rays/lab tests, particularly in training programs and after hours; identifying "red flag" and "don't miss" diagnoses and situations and use of manual and automated check-lists; engaging patients on multiple levels to become "coproducers" of safer medical diagnosis practices; and weaving "safety nets" to mitigate harm from uncertainties and errors in diagnosis. These change ideas need to be tested and implemented for more timely and error-free diagnoses.
Background: Missed or delayed diagnoses are a com- mon but understudied area in patient safety re... more Background: Missed or delayed diagnoses are a com- mon but understudied area in patient safety research. To better understand the types, causes, and prevention of such errors, we surveyed clinicians to solicit perceived cases of missed and delayed diagnoses. Methods: A 6-item written survey was administered at 20 grand rounds presentations across the United States and by mail at 2
Archives of internal medicine, Jan 9, 2009
Missed or delayed diagnoses are a common but understudied area in patient safety research. To bet... more Missed or delayed diagnoses are a common but understudied area in patient safety research. To better understand the types, causes, and prevention of such errors, we surveyed clinicians to solicit perceived cases of missed and delayed diagnoses. A 6-item written survey was administered at 20 grand rounds presentations across the United States and by mail at 2 collaborating institutions. Respondents were asked to report 3 cases of diagnostic errors and to describe their perceived causes, seriousness, and frequency. A total of 669 cases were reported by 310 clinicians from 22 institutions. After cases without diagnostic errors or lacking sufficient details were excluded, 583 remained. Of these, 162 errors (28%) were rated as major, 241 (41%) as moderate, and 180 (31%) as minor or insignificant. The most common missed or delayed diagnoses were pulmonary embolism (26 cases [4.5% of total]), drug reactions or overdose (26 cases [4.5%]), lung cancer (23 cases [3.9%]), colorectal cancer (19...