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Eliminating Harm from
Diagnostic Error

The Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM) is working to create a world where no patients are harmed by diagnostic error.

What We Do

DxQI Seed Grant Program

Engaging healthcare organizations in efforts to identify, develop, and test interventions aimed at improving diagnostic quality and reducing harm from diagnostic error.

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1 in 3 Serious Malpractice Cases are Due to Misdiagnosis

New research shows that one-third of malpractice cases that result in death or permanent disability stem from an inaccurate or delayed diagnosis, making it the number one cause of serious harms among medical errors.

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DEM2019 Registration Now Open

Take advantage of early bird registration rates for the 12th Annual International Diagnostic Error in Medicine Conference (DEM2019) now through September 20!

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Improving Diagnostic Safety

Over 50 leading healthcare organizations have joined forces to reduce harm and ensure better health outcomes for patients.

Coalition to Improve Diagnosis

The Lingering Lump

Diana Cejas, MD, MPH, was in her first year of medical school at Howard University College of Medicine when she first noticed the lump in her neck. It would take five years before she finally had an accurate diagnosis.

Read Her Story

Disparities in Diagnosis

Upon first entry in the diagnostic process, the age, race/ethnicity, and sex of the patient are the first characteristics that are visible to healthcare providers.

What We're Doing

Missing Pathology Report

After having a mass removed from his cervical spine, Patrick Sheridan was told he wouldn't need any further treatment. However, the final pathology would never make it to Patrick's neurosurgeon.

Patrick's Story

Patients as Partners in Healthcare

Sue Sheridan, SIDM's Director of Patient Engagement, recently delivered a plenary talk at AMEE 2019 on making patients partners in healthcare professions education and practice.

Watch the video and learn more about what SIDM is doing to make patients key members of the diagnostic team.

Engaging Patients

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.

Resources

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.

Resources

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.

Resources

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.

Resources

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.

Resources

In the News

concept money growing and small tree in jar

$4.5 Million Grant Program to Spur Innovation in Diagnostic Quality and Safety

The new DxQI Seed Grant Prgram will engage healthcare organizations in efforts to identify, develop and test interventions aimed at improving diagnostic quality and reducing harm from diagnostic error.

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Doctor addressing a room of students

Diagnosis, the Missing Course

The ability to diagnose patients’ medical problems is central to being a physician. How is it possible that diagnosis is not taught in medical school?

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David Newman-Toker speaking at July 11 event on Capitol Hill

New Research Showcases the Extent of Diagnostic Error Harm

According to new research, one-third (34%) of malpractice cases that result in death or permanent disability stem from an inaccurate or delayed diagnosis.

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Woman with question marks around her head

Top five things to do before you see your doctor

Getting the right diagnosis is a team effort. This column shares what you can do before you see your doctor to help improve your chances of getting an accurate and timely diagnosis. These five steps are simple and practical and work for every body.

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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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