Since the 1999 release of the Institute of Medicine report entitled “To Err is Human,” the patient safety movement has gained massive momentum. A patient safety program typically has several facets, but one of the key components is the investigation of serious adverse medical events. Most methods of error analysis focus on problems inherent in the “system” rather than individual behavior. Recently, however, new concepts regarding the origin of medical errors have been introduced in the medical literature. These concepts deal with the psychology of clinical decision-making. Practitioners are subject to heuristics and biases, or cognitive dispositions to respond, which influence clinical decision-making and can result in cognitive errors. Thus, the technique of cognitive error analysis, used alone or in combination with other methods of error analysis, can serve as a valuable resource when added to the patient safety toolbox of any individual or organization.
In this activity, we continue (from Cognitive Errors in Medicine Part 1) to examine how thought processes influence decision-making, affect patient care, and contribute to medical mistakes. We introduce several types of cognitive errors and discuss real case examples to illustrate how cognitive errors contributed to delayed or missed diagnoses; we also address another source of medical errors known as authority gradients. After completing this activity, practitioners should be able to: employ strategies to minimize the occurrence of cognitive errors in clinical practice; employ cognitive error analysis in the evaluation of adverse clinical outcomes; and implement strategies to promote communication across authority gradients.
- Provider:The Sullivan Group
- Activity Link: https://www.thesullivangroup.com/RSQSolutions/course-purchase-home/
- Start Date: 2023-10-05 05:00:00
- End Date: 2023-10-05 05:00:00
- Credit Details: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™️: 2.0 hours
- Commercial Support: No
- Activity Type: Enduring Material
- CME Finder Type: Online Learning
- Fee to Participate: Variable
- Measured Outcome: Learner Competence, Learner Knowledge, Learner Performance, Patient Health
- Provider Ship: Directly Provided
- Registration: Open to all