Avoiding Diagnostic Pitfalls

The Chronology of Present Illness is an alternative approach to taking a patient history. Developed by Dr. Kelly Skeff more than 30 years ago, it has been shown to improve efficiency and accuracy. It now appears also to be a good tactic for avoiding some pitfalls in diagnosis.

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Medicine's Biggest Blind Spot - Women's Bodies

This month's Dx IQ column examines medicine’s biggest blind spot: our lack of knowledge about how women’s bodies work.

Fellowship in Diagnosis

The call for Fellowship in Diagnostic Excellence applications is currently open, including a funded stipend position made possible by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

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ACT for Better Diagnosis

Every 9 minutes, someone dies due to a wrong or delayed medical diagnosis. By working together, the Accuracy, Communication, and Timeliness of diagnosis can be improved.

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Vision and Mission

Creating a world where no patients are harmed by diagnostic error. The Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM) catalyzes and leads change to improve diagnosis and eliminate harm from diagnostic error, in partnership with patients, their families, the healthcare community and every interested stakeholder.

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Patients

Patients and family members have a significant opportunity to contribute to diagnostic accuracy and timeliness by actively participating in the diagnostic process. But often, they don't know the questions to ask, the information to offer, or the steps to take to improve diagnosis.

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Clinical Teams

Every member of the clinical team has a role to play in ensuring that diagnoses are accurate, timely and communicated to the patient. SIDM offers resources for clinical team members to improve cognitive skills and work within their health systems to improve the diagnostic process.

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Medical Educators

Improving diagnosis requires continued investment in medical education, leveraging trainees, practitioners, and educators to address gaps in the system and focus on the teams that contribute to accurate and timely diagnostics. SIDM's resources for medical educators examine clinical reasoning and system factors that underlie diagnostic error, and offer tools and strategies to to bring diagnostic quality and safety into the medical education curriculum.

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Researchers

Whether you're an established researcher or just joining the diagnostic error research community, SIDM offers a variety of resources to help advance research efforts in the field. Explore existing literature, engage with your peers, and join the conversation as we work to foster the growth of the research community.

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Advocacy

Despite the fact that diagnostic error likely accounts for more patient harm than all other medical errors combined, federal investment in research to improve diagnosis amounts to about $7 million per year, or just .02% of the total $35 billion federal health research budget. Learn how you can support efforts to expand funding for research.

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In the News

Her Cancer Went Undetected, Now This Grandmother Wants to Help Others Get the Right Diagnosis

SIDM Chief Medical Officer, Mark Graber, and Education Committee Co-Chair, Andrew Olson, talk to the Hudson Star-Observer about the impact of diagnostic error.

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Organizations Commit to Improve Diagnosis Accuracy and Timeliness

Six new members commit to improving diagnostic quality—joining 45 of the most prominent organizations in health care and patient advocacy.

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Join Us

SIDM is the only organization focused exclusively on reducing diagnostic error in medicine. And when you join SIDM, you help lead the way to better health care for everyone.

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Support Our Mission

Only through your support can SIDM create a world where no patients are harmed by diagnostic error.

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