Understanding Diagnostic Errors: What They Are and How You Can Help Prevent Them
A diagnostic error is a failure to correctly identify a medical condition, often resulting in a misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, or a missed opportunity for timely care. These errors can happen in any healthcare setting and can have serious consequences on a patient’s health, safety, and long-term outcomes.
The Risk of Diagnostic Errors
The risks associated with diagnostic errors are significant. A delayed or incorrect diagnosis can lead to:
- Progression of disease due to delayed treatment
- Unnecessary or harmful treatments
- Emotional stress and confusion
- Compromised continuity of care
Disruption in qualifying for care under medical necessity standards
These issues can be especially harmful when patients are managing chronic conditions or juggling multiple healthcare providers. Even with the best intentions, mistakes happen—and it’s important to understand why.
It’s Not Always the Physician’s Fault
It may be tempting to place blame on a physician for a diagnostic error, but it’s rarely that simple. More often than not, diagnostic errors happen because healthcare providers don’t have enough—or the right—information at the time of decision-making.
Doctors rely heavily on what’s presented during the appointment: symptoms, history, labs, imaging, and notes from other specialists. If a piece of that puzzle is missing or out of date, it can easily lead to an oversight. The electronic medical record (EMR) system is helpful but not foolproof—it often contains incomplete or outdated information, especially when care is spread across different facilities.
Why the Patient Plays a Vital Role
Here’s the truth: no one knows your health story better than you do. That’s why it’s so important for patients to take ownership of their health information and care coordination. You can dramatically reduce the risk of diagnostic error by becoming an active, informed participant in your healthcare journey.
Here’s how:
1. Maintain a Dynamic Document Management System
Keep an organized and up-to-date health record outside of the EMR. This includes:
- Current medications
- Allergies
- Past diagnoses
- Test results
- Specialist reports
- Symptom logs
Bring this record to every appointment and update it frequently. Think of it as your personal backup system that ties the pieces of your care together.
2. Bridge Gaps in Care
When transitioning between providers or facilities, gaps often occur. Labs may not be transferred, imaging may be delayed, or prior diagnoses may not be clearly communicated. You can help by:
- Confirming referrals are completed
- Bringing physical copies of test results
- Following up on pending items
Ensuring your full history is accessible to all your care team members
3. Support Continuity of Care
Seeing different providers for various needs is common—but it makes communication harder. Help maintain continuity of care by keeping your full team in the loop. Always inform each provider about new symptoms, tests, or treatments you’ve received elsewhere.
4. Clarify Medical Necessity and Diagnosis
Healthcare coverage often hinges on having a documented and accurate diagnosis. If something isn’t coded properly or isn’t well-supported in your record, it could delay care or insurance approval. Make sure your concerns and symptoms are clearly stated, and ask for clarification when something doesn’t sound right or isn’t recorded.
Final Thoughts
Preventing diagnostic errors is a shared responsibility. Physicians are trained to make informed decisions, but they depend on complete and accurate information to do their job well. As a patient, taking steps to organize and communicate your health information bridges the gap and helps your providers help you.
By managing your records, staying engaged in your care, and not relying solely on the electronic medical record, you can reduce oversights and promote better outcomes—not just for yourself, but for the entire care team supporting you.
When the Diagnosis Misses the Mark: 3 Real-Life Examples That Show Why Your Involvement Matters
Diagnostic errors can be life-changing—but they’re often avoidable. While it’s easy to assume mistakes happen solely in the exam room, the truth is more complex. Many diagnostic errors occur not because the physician didn’t care or lacked skill, but because key information was missing at the time of decision-making.
Your health story is far too important to be left to fragmented systems and assumptions. These three real-life-inspired examples reveal how gaps in communication, incomplete documentation, or unshared information can result in a delayed or incorrect diagnosis—and what you can do to prevent it.
By understanding where things went wrong, you’ll see how your role as an active participant in your care can make all the difference in getting to the right diagnosis—faster, safer, and with greater confidence.
Example 1: The Missed Medication Conflict
Scenario:
John visits his primary care doctor for fatigue and lightheadedness. The doctor prescribes a new medication to treat high blood pressure. A week later, John ends up in the ER due to dangerously low blood pressure.
What Went Wrong:
John didn’t mention that another specialist recently prescribed a medication that also lowers blood pressure. The two medications interacted, causing his symptoms to worsen.
Patient Oversight:
John assumed all his doctors had access to the same electronic medical record, but they used different systems. He didn’t maintain or bring an updated medication list to his visit.
Takeaway:
Always carry a current medication list and inform every provider of recent prescriptions, even if you think they "should already know."
Example 2: The Delayed Diagnosis
Scenario:
Maria has been experiencing abdominal pain for months. She tells her gynecologist, who assumes it’s menstrual-related. Later, she mentions it to her primary care provider, who thinks it’s gastrointestinal and orders basic labs. After six more months of frustration and worsening symptoms, she’s finally diagnosed with endometriosis by a specialist.
What Went Wrong:
Each provider only saw part of the picture, and Maria didn’t bring up the full scope of her symptoms in each appointment.
Patient Oversight:
Maria didn’t track or consolidate her symptoms across appointments. She assumed providers would coordinate her care behind the scenes.
Takeaway:
When symptoms persist, keep a detailed log and share it consistently with each provider. Don’t assume they are coordinating with each other unless you initiate it.
Example 3: The Incomplete History
Scenario:
Tom goes to an urgent care clinic with shortness of breath. The doctor suspects a mild respiratory infection and sends him home with antibiotics. A week later, he ends up hospitalized with heart failure.
What Went Wrong:
The urgent care doctor didn’t know Tom had a long-standing cardiac condition, which made his symptoms much more serious.
Patient Oversight:
Tom didn’t mention his heart history, assuming it was already in his file or not relevant since he was seeing a new provider for a “simple issue.”
Takeaway:
Even in walk-in clinics or urgent care, always communicate major health history. Don’t assume a provider has access to or will review your complete medical background.
Do you have any questions about your results or how to improve your healthcare proficiency?
Disclaimer: This education was brought to you today by The Patient Better Project Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to reshaping the way patients and caregivers navigate care. We are committed to empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools necessary to take control of their health journeys, ensuring that everyone can access the care they need with confidence and clarity.
The information provided here is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
