Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality

Organization (Website) Origin: Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM) (https://www.improvediagnosis.org/)

Topic Brief:
Diagnosis is a journey. The Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine's column, Dx IQ, takes patients through the various steps of that journey. Each month the articles will show where the pitfalls may be, how to be proactive, and how patients can partner with the healthcare team to reduce their risk.

January Feature Article for Patients – 'Medical testing's dirty little secret and how you can protect yourself'

Patrick Sheridan was relieved to hear he didn't have cancer. The initial report on the tumor removed from his spine said it was benign. However, no one at the neurosurgeon's office was aware that corrected test reports were neither seen by the surgeon nor communicated to Pat. Six months later, when his pain returned, Pat and his doctor learned that the unseen test results noted he had an aggressive, malignant sarcoma requiring urgent treatment. It was too late, and Pat died when he was 45.

Sarah Boyle was just 25 when she had months of chemotherapy followed by a double mastectomy for her invasive breast cancer. That's when she learned she never actually had breast cancer. The lab's official statement blamed "human error" for misdiagnosing a cancer-free patient with invasive cancer. Despite enduring difficult and unnecessary treatment and surgery, today Sarah is focused on helping prevent this kind of error for others.

Medical testing should only happen after a complete history is taken and a physical exam is given. It can be an essential step in getting properly diagnosed. Though the vast majority of tests are conducted correctly and reported quickly and accurately to the healthcare professional and the patient, understanding how the testing process can and does go wrong can give you an opportunity to protect yourself.

The article goes on to provide patients with information on:

• Closing the loop on test results
• Understanding test results
• Inaccurate test results

DX IQ Feature Article URL: https://www.improvediagnosis.org/dxiq-column/medical-testings-dirty-little-secret-and-how-you-can-protect-yourself/

Commentary:
Patient engagement and education is the responsibility of all healthcare professionals. Please feel free to share the website https://www.improvediagnosis.org/ and resource articles with the patients you serve.

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Lezlee Koch, ASCLS Patient Safety Committee
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