Hospitals, Patient Engagement

What causes medical errors in cardiology? (Infographic)

Perhaps it's not surprising that misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis and other assessment-related issues were so prevalent in cardiology.

All kinds of things have been blamed for medical errors and adverse outcomes. Sometimes, they’re caused by poor communication, including the failure to deliver the right medical information to the right place at the right time. Often, patients don’t follow doctor’s orders. And, yes, healthcare professionals are human and make mistakes.

That’s exactly what medical malpractice insurer The Doctors Co. found by examining 429 cardiology claims that reached a resolution between 2007 and 2013. The insurer, based in Napa, California, released a study of  its findings, and produced this infographic.

 

Doctors Company cardiology adverse events

Perhaps it’s not surprising that misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis and other assessment-related issues were so prevalent. In September, the Institute of Medicine said that the majority of Americans would experience one “meaningful” diagnostic error in their lifetimes.

Images: The Doctors Co., Rodale.com

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