Obtaining an accurate diagnosis is fundamental to effective healthcare, serving as the bedrock upon which all subsequent medical decisions are made. It is the process of elucidating a patient’s health issues through meticulous clinical reasoning and comprehensive information gathering. However, the report Improving Diagnosis in Health Care from the Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine) in 2016, throws light on a concerning reality: diagnostic errors – defined as inaccurate or delayed diagnoses – are pervasive across all healthcare settings and continue to inflict harm upon a significant number of individuals.
This landmark report, a successor to the influential To Err Is Human (2000) and Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001), underscores that diagnostic errors have been largely overlooked in the broader efforts to enhance healthcare quality and safety. The consequences of these errors can be profound, ranging from delayed or inappropriate treatment and unnecessary interventions to psychological and financial burdens for patients. Alarmingly, the report suggests that most people will experience at least one diagnostic error during their lifetime, potentially with severe repercussions.
The committee behind Improving Diagnosis in Health Care Institute of Medicine 2016 emphasizes that enhancing the diagnostic process is not merely desirable but an ethical, professional, and public health necessity. As healthcare delivery and diagnostic procedures become increasingly complex, the risk of diagnostic errors is likely to escalate without focused intervention. Just as diagnosis is a collaborative endeavor, its improvement demands widespread cooperation and a firm commitment to change from all stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, organizations, patients and their families, researchers, and policymakers.
The recommendations put forth in Improving Diagnosis in Health Care are a vital contribution to the growing movement aimed at improving this critical aspect of healthcare quality and patient safety. By addressing the systemic issues that contribute to diagnostic errors, this report provides a roadmap for creating a safer and more effective healthcare system for all.
