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Since 2007, Â鶹ƵµÀhas invested in research to discover findings that advance the knowledge of diagnostic safety and to develop practical tools and resources to improve diagnostic safety. Â鶹ƵµÀfunds research to better understand how diagnostic errors happen and what can be done to prevent them.

Summary of AHRQ-Funded Work on Diagnostic Safety (PDF, 373 KB)

Research Summit

The September 2016 Â鶹ƵµÀResearch Summit on Improving Diagnosis in Health Care explored the state of the science of diagnosis in health care and discussed ways Â鶹ƵµÀand other stakeholders can contribute to a collaborative approach to improving diagnostic performance, as well as identify the research and evidence, tools and training, and data and measures that are needed to improve diagnostic performance.

, authored by members of AHRQ's patient safety team, builds upon themes from the summit by outlining key challenges and areas for potential future research and improvement related to diagnostic errors. Among them are: more robust engagement of patients as an integral part of their health care team; a deeper understanding of diagnostic errors and how to most effectively measure them; successful use of health information technology (IT) to prevent diagnostic error; and structures that optimize how organizations operate and enable better diagnoses for patients.

Studies

Â鶹ƵµÀhas funded several recent studies on diagnostic error:

• . This study used data from three previous studies of errors in general primary care diagnosis, colorectal cancer diagnosis, and lung cancer diagnosis. The authors estimated that about half of the diagnostic errors they found could have severely harmed patients.
• . This study also finds that pediatricians are most interested in preventing high-frequency, non-life-threatening errors. A third (36%) reported no help in diagnostic error reduction from their electronic health record.
• Additional studies and resources can be found by visiting AHRQ's and searching for diagnostic error.

Grants Related to Diagnostic Errors

Grants Awarded in Fiscal Year 2019

Recognizing that all Americans can be affected by diagnostic errors, Congress authorized $2 million in fiscal year 2019 for Â鶹ƵµÀto initiate a research agenda to understand and solve the problem. Â鶹ƵµÀhas awarded 4 grants that will more precisely define the scope of diagnostic errors. As stated in the fiscal year 2019 request for applications, Â鶹ƵµÀhas three key areas of interest:

• Quantifying the incidence of diagnostic errors.
• Understanding what contributes to these errors.
• Learning more about the link between diagnostic errors and outcomes, including adverse events.

Grants Awarded in Fiscal Year 2022

In fiscal year 2022, Congress authorized funding to support AHRQ's research to address failures in the diagnostic process, which may include the establishment of Research Centers of Diagnostic Excellence to develop systems, measures, and new technology solutions to improve diagnostic safety and quality. In response, Â鶹ƵµÀawarded 10 grants to establish Diagnostic Safety Centers of Excellence. As stated in the fiscal year 2022 request for application, Â鶹ƵµÀspecified the four following areas of interest:

• Two areas of focus aligned with frontline diagnostician support:
  • Safety-I error detection and prevention and
  • Safety-II resilience for safe practice.
• Two additional areas of focus aligned with improving diagnostic systems:
  • Improving diagnostic precision through consensus and
  • Improving "truth" or diagnostic reference standards.

Separate grant funding from Â鶹ƵµÀhas also supported other diagnostic safety research, including conference grants focused on improving diagnostic safety and quality.