Missed diagnoses in an accident & emergency department.
The diagnoses which were missed at patients' first attendance at an A & E Department over a 6-month period were noted and investigated. The most common cause of missed diagnosis was failure to interpret X-ray findings correctly; this and other causes are discussed. Recommendations as to how this can be improved are made.
D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000592:standards; D011859:Radiography / Q000592:standards