Diagnostic Error in Healthcare: Why It Happens and How to Prevent It
Every year, an estimated 12 million Americans experience a diagnostic error in outpatient settings alone. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), diagnostic errors contribute to approximately 10% of all patient deaths and account for up to 17% of preventable adverse events in hospitalized patients.
For decades, patient safety initiatives focused primarily on medication safety and surgical complications. However, clinical organizations now recognize diagnostic error as a critical hazard. Because nursing professionals act as the primary, continuous interface between the patient and the healthcare system, they are uniquely positioned to intercept these errors before they result in catastrophic outcomes.
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