Course description

Diagnostic error has long been a concern. The report “To Err Is Human” first opened the doors to the problem of patient safety, but it was another 15 years until diagnostic error was specifically identified as a major problem. 

In this course, we examine some of the most important lessons learned from this research and review the frequency of diagnostic errors. We will discuss two major areas for errors: 1) the systems and teams tasked with gathering and receiving sufficient information to make a diagnostic determination and 2) clinical reasoning – accurately interpreting this information based on the evidence you have collected.

We will also delve into what researchers call the "Big 3" – three conditions that appear in the most serious diagnostic error complaints – and discuss strategies for avoiding diagnostic errors in each. By the end of this course, you should be able to identify and implement these strategies into your work to help mitigate your risk of diagnostic error.

Learning objectives

At the conclusion of this educational activity, participants will be able to:

• Describe the main causes of diagnostic error
• Identify three major medical conditions which pose particular diagnostic challenges
• Develop strategies to mitigate the risk of diagnostic error with regards to receiving and interpreting information and data 

Target audience

Physician and clinician policyholders

Disclosure

There are no relevant financial relationships with ACCME-defined commercial interests for anyone who was in control of the content of this activity.

CME Information

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Illinois State Medical Society and ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company. The Illinois State Medical Society is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Illinois State Medical Society designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The Illinois Nurse Practice Act rules deem CME credit provided by approved sponsors as acceptable to fulfill nursing continuing education requirements for licensure. Nurses may claim one contact hour per unit of CME in the state of Illinois.

MOC information

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1 Medical Knowledge MOC points and patient safety MOC credit in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.