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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

Call for Sessions: DEM2019

SIDM is seeking workshops, posters, and oral abstracts for the 12th Annual Diagnostic Error in Medicine Conference.

Submission Guidelines

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

Transforming Medical Education

Taking the first steps toward developing a new curriculum to educate health professionals about how to improve diagnosis.

Consensus Curriculum

Diagnostic Roller Coaster

Jennifer Campisano was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at 32 years old. After nearly four years of chemotherapy, Jennifer came face-to-face with a critical diagnostic error that occurred early in her journey.

Jennifer's Story
Capitol Hill

Catalyzing Policy Action

Despite the enormous toll of diagnostic error on lives and resources, funding for research to tackle this problem remains minimal, totaling just a few million dollars each year.

Policy Roadmap

Testing Oversight

After finding a small lump on her breast, Sandra Kaus completed a mammogram and was told if she did not hear back, all was well. One year later, Sandra faced a devastating delayed diagnosis caused by an initial testing oversight.

Sandra's Story

Diagnostic Error: A Patient Safety Imperative

Sue Sheridan, SIDM's Director of Patient Engagement, discusses her family’s experience with diagnostic error in the new documentary, To Err is Human.

Learn more as the documentary highlights the latest efforts in patient safety and explore what SIDM is doing to create a world where no patients are harmed by diagnostic error.

What is Diagnostic Error?

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

ACT for Better Diagnosis logo

Diagnostic Improvement is a Journey

Read the latest issue of the ACT Update Newsletter, featuring Northwell Health's teach-back method to address cognitive error.

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Doctor Talking with Patient

New PA Law Requires Patient Notification for Abnormal Imaging Results

Pennsylvania's Patient Test Result Information Act requires imaging entities to notify patients directly about abnormal findings.

Read More

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.

Donate