The new diagnostic team.

The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) in the recently issued report Improving Diagnosis in Health Care outlined eight major recommendations to improve the quality and safety of diagnosis. The #1 recommendation was to improve teamwork in the diagnostic process. This is a major departure from the classical approach, where the physician is solely responsible for diagnosis.

Diagnosis is a team sport - partnering with allied health professionals to reduce diagnostic errors.

Background: Diagnostic errors are the most common, most costly, and most catastrophic of medical errors. Interdisciplinary teamwork has been shown to reduce harm from therapeutic errors, but sociocultural barriers may impact the engagement of allied health professionals (AHPs) in the diagnostic process.

Methods: A qualitative case study of the experience at a single institution around involvement of an AHP in the diagnostic process for acute dizziness and vertigo.

Diagnosis is a team sport - partnering with allied health professionals to reduce diagnostic errors: A case study on the role of a vestibular therapist in diagnosing dizziness.

Background: Diagnostic errors are the most common, most costly, and most catastrophic of medical errors. Interdisciplinary teamwork has been shown to reduce harm from therapeutic errors, but sociocultural barriers may impact the engagement of allied health professionals (AHPs) in the diagnostic process.

Methods: A qualitative case study of the experience at a single institution around involvement of an AHP in the diagnostic process for acute dizziness and vertigo.