The CDC on Sept. 17 released a set of new resources to support hospitals in reducing diagnostic errors, which are responsible for nearly 800,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.
The agency partnered with CMS and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to develop the resources, which include tools tailored for hospitals as well as for patients and their families. The tools, outlined in a Sept. 17 news release shared with Becker's, include:
- A guide, titled "The Core Elements of Hospital Diagnostic Excellence Programs," that outlines key action items for hospitals to improve diagnostic safety
- A set of diagnostic excellence assessment tools to support hospitals in implementing the core elements
- A checklist empowering hospitalized patients and their families to ask questions regarding their diagnosis
Diagnostic errors remain a significant issue in U.S. hospitals, with nearly one-quarter of patients who die in hospitals or are transferred to ICUs experiencing diagnostic errors or delays, according to a study published in January. The majority of diagnostic errors occur during the testing process, according to a recent analysis from the Emergency Care Research institute.