ECRI just released their annual list of Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for 2022, highlighting, among other important patient safety concerns, two priority issues for SIDM: (1) bias and racism in addressing patient safety; and (2) cognitive biases and diagnostic error.

We recognize that racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare are not new, so with patients as our partners, we and other stakeholders work to identify and reduce diagnostic disparities associated not only with race and ethnicity but also age, gender, and other social determinants of health.

Identifying and reducing cognitive biases is an important component of a systematic approach to preventing diagnostic errors and promoting diagnostic excellence.  However, because of the personal nature of cognitive biases, it is essential that strategies to reduce bias be implemented in the context of the foundational elements described in the National Action Plan: (1) leadership and culture committed to safety; (2) patient and families as partners designing and co-producing solutions; (3) workforce safety; and (4) supporting a learning health system.

To learn more about current work to reduce diagnostic disparities and cognitive biases check out our work addressing disparities in diagnosis, DxQI Seed Grant Program, and our Annual Conferences.