Read the New Dx IQ Column

Getting it right is so important, and not always easy to do. That’s why we're sharing this new series of columns, called Dx IQ, to help patients be more informed and prepared for every medical interaction.

Help Us Improve Diagnosis

The support of our members and donors is vital to our efforts to improve diagnosis and create a world where no patients are harmed from diagnostic error.

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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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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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Coalition to Improve Diagnosis

Together, we work to find solutions that enhance diagnostic safety and quality, reduce harm, and ultimately, ensure better health outcomes for patients.

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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

Facing Medical Uncertainty, Some Doctors Tell Patients It's All in Their Heads

Mark Graber, SIDM's Chief Medical Officer, sits down with CNN to discuss medical uncertainty.

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How to Check Your Medial Records for Dangerous Errors

SIDM's Director of Patient Engagement, Sue Sheridan, tells her diagnostic error story to CNN.

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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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