Identifying Diagnostic Errors in Primary Care Using an Electronic Screening Algorithm

Abstract

The complexity and severity of illness seen in primary care have increased in recent years, contributing to higher risk for medical errors in this setting.¹ It is possible that diagnostic errors are the most common types of error in primary care^1-3 and the most expensive,^4,5 being the leading basis for malpractice claims.^1,4,6 Despite their importance, diagnostic errors are an underemphasized, underidentified, and understudied area of patient safety,⁷ perhaps because they are difficult to detect.⁶ Therefore, strategies to help identify diagnostic errors are critical to improving the quality and safety of primary care delivery.