Medical errors are the third most common cause of patient mortality in the United States, it comes following cardiovascular disease and cancer, affecting more than 251,000 patients per year.
Errors in diagnostic interpretative imaging are a one of the most factor contributor with an estimated day-to-day error rate of 3-5% for all studies reported. So, with 1 billion radiographic examinations performed annually worldwide, this would translate into 30 million-to-50 million interpretative errors per year. Given the significant patient implications, it is imperative that we continually attempt to identify and eliminate diagnostic errors as best as possible.
A common diagnostic error is termed “satisfaction of search.” With this error, a radiologist fails to continue to search for additional abnormalities after finding the first one. This error accounts for 22% of radiologic errors.
The second error is Under-reading is another common diagnostic error, constituting up to 42% or more of all radiologist errors. It occurs when an abnormality is present on the image but is missed and not recorded in the final report. Often, the abnormality is easily identifiable in retrospect, but it was simply not perceived at the time of primary medical image interpretation.
Strategies to reduce medical errors
While there is no definitive solution, several strategies can help reduce the frequency of this type of error. For example, medical image enhancement and post-processing tools can help optimize images and aid in reducing under-reading errors. In addition to enhancing the image and reducing anatomic noise, artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly more useful at identifying abnormalities in the image itself. Computer-aided detection can help reduce the likelihood of missing some radiologic abnormalities, particularly in mammography, lung nodule and stomach diseases detection on Ultrasound Systems.
The third key error that affects imaging care is failure of effective communication, which is often a key driver of patient adverse outcomes. Effective communication between the radiologist and the referring physician relies on clear and concise reports delivered in an appropriate and timely manner.
Identifying major diagnostic errors and potential strategies to reduce their occurrence is a key step towards improving radiologic care. However, perhaps the most important factor to consider is the inclusion of awareness in the education of future radiologists. Providing the next generation of radiologists with an understanding of their own limitations and biases may have the greatest long-term impact on reducing the frequency of diagnostic errors.
On the other side, choosing the right ultrasound imaging device for radiology diagnosis is the most important factor.
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