Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content
Commentary

Improving patient care. The cognitive psychology of missed diagnoses.

Redelmeier DA. Improving patient care. The cognitive psychology of missed diagnoses. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142(2):115-120. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-142-2-200501180-00010

Save
Print
April 21, 2005
Redelmeier DA. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142(2):115-120.
View more articles from the same authors.

This case study describes the events surrounding a series of diagnostic errors in a patient initially treated for pharyngitis and ultimately diagnosed with an epidural abscess and osteomyelitis. While reviewing the details of the case, the author explores the pitfalls leading to missed diagnoses, including several types of "cognitive shortcuts" that commonly lead to such errors. Discussion offers strategies to overcome these diagnostic shortcomings and methods to combat natural cognitive tendencies. This article is part of a special collection entitled “Quality Grand Rounds,” a series of articles published in the Annals of Internal Medicine that explores a range of quality issues and medical errors.

Save
Print
Cite
Citation

Redelmeier DA. Improving patient care. The cognitive psychology of missed diagnoses. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142(2):115-120. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-142-2-200501180-00010

Related Resources From the Same Author(s)
Related Resources