AHRQ: Diagnostic Errors in the Emergency Department: 5 Takeaways

1. 5.7% of patients receive an incorrect diagnosis in the emergency department
2. 2.0% of patients suffer an adverse event because of the incorrect diagnosis
3. 0.3% of patients suffer permanent disability or death because of the incorrect diagnosis
4. 5 conditions comprise 39% of serious misdiagnosis-related harms: #1 stroke, #2 myocardial infarction, #3 aortic aneurysm/dissection, #4 spinal cord compression/injury, #5 venous thromboembolism
5. Stroke, the top serious harm-producing disease, is missed an estimated 17% of the time.

Notes: From a report entitled, "Diagnostic Errors in the Emergency Department: A Systematic Review"
Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), December 15, 2022
Source URL: https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/diagnostic-err...

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