title: Errors in Diagnosis of Spinal Epidural Abscesses in the Era of Electronic Health Records.
abstract: With this study, we set out to identify missed opportunities in diagnosis of spinal epidural abscesses to outline areas for process improvement.
  
  
  
  Using a large national clinical data repository, we identified all patients with a new diagnosis of spinal epidural abscess in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) during 2013. Two physicians independently conducted retrospective chart reviews on 250 randomly selected patients and evaluated their records for red flags (eg, unexplained weight loss, neurological deficits, and fever) 90 days prior to diagnosis. Diagnostic errors were defined as missed opportunities to evaluate red flags in a timely or appropriate manner. Reviewers gathered information about process breakdowns related to patient factors, the patient-provider encounter, test performance and interpretation, test follow-up and tracking, and the referral process. Reviewers also determined harm and time lag between red flags and definitive diagnoses.
  
  
  
  Of 250 patients, 119 had a new diagnosis of spinal epidural abscess, 66 (55.5%) of which experienced diagnostic error. Median time to diagnosis in error cases was 12 days, compared with 4 days in cases without error (P <.01). Red flags that were frequently not evaluated in error cases included unexplained fever (n = 57; 86.4%), focal neurological deficits with progressive or disabling symptoms (n = 54; 81.8%), and active infection (n = 54; 81.8%). Most errors involved breakdowns during the patient-provider encounter (n = 60; 90.1%), including failures in information gathering/integration, and were associated with temporary harm (n = 43; 65.2%).
  
  
  
  Despite wide availability of clinical data, errors in diagnosis of spinal epidural abscesses are common and involve inadequate history, physical examination, and test ordering. Solutions should include renewed attention to basic clinical skills.
authors.affiliation: Houston Veterans Affairs Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Tex; Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.
authors.forename: Viraj
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bhise
authors.affiliation: Houston Veterans Affairs Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Tex; Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.
authors.forename: Ashley N D
authors.initials: AND
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Houston Veterans Affairs Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Tex; Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.
authors.forename: Hardeep
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Houston Veterans Affairs Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Tex; Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Houston Veterans Affairs Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Tex; Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.
authors.forename: Aymer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Mutairi
authors.affiliation: Houston Veterans Affairs Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Tex; Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex. Electronic address: drmurphy@bcm.edu.
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020802:Epidural Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000071896:Medically Unexplained Symptoms; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D058014:Veterans Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: Back pain; Diagnostic delays; Diagnostic errors; Red flags; Spinal epidural abscess