Document Detail


Communicating pathology and laboratory errors: anatomic pathologists' and laboratory medical directors' attitudes and experiences.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21502431     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Physicians are urged to communicate more openly following medical errors, but little is known about pathologists' attitudes about reporting errors to their institution and disclosing them to patients. We undertook a survey to characterize pathologists' and laboratory medical directors' attitudes and experience regarding the communication of errors with hospitals, treating physicians, and affected patients. We invited 260 practicing pathologists and 81 academic hospital laboratory medical directors to participate in a self-administered survey. This survey included questions regarding estimated error rates and barriers to and experience with error disclosure. The majority of respondents (~95%) reported having been involved with an error, and respondents expressed near unanimous belief that errors should be disclosed to hospitals, colleagues, and patients; however, only about 48% thought that current error reporting systems were adequate. In addition, pathologists expressed discomfort with their communication skills in regard to error disclosure. Improving error reporting systems and developing robust disclosure training could help prevent future errors, improving patient safety and trust.
Authors:
Suzanne M Dintzis; Galina Y Stetsenko; Colleen M Sitlani; Ann M Gronowski; Michael L Astion; Thomas H Gallagher
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  American journal of clinical pathology     Volume:  135     ISSN:  1943-7722     ISO Abbreviation:  Am. J. Clin. Pathol.     Publication Date:  2011 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-04-19     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0370470     Medline TA:  Am J Clin Pathol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  760-5     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
University of Washington Medical Center, Box 356100, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Pathology archive: evaluation of integrity, regulatory compliance, and construction of searchable da...
Next Document:  Detection of human papillomavirus using hybrid capture 2 in oral brushings from patients with oropha...