Reducing errors in the accident department: a simple method using radiographers

The assessments by radiographers of 1628 consecutive patients referred for radiography in the casualty department were analysed. The radiographers missed abnormalities in the radiographs in 68 of the cases. Casualty officers missed abnormalities in 63 cases, but only 35 patients were common to both...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ 1985-02, Vol.290 (6466), p.421-422
Main Authors: Berman, L, de Lacey, G, Twomey, E, Twomey, B, Welch, T, Eban, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidents
Diagnostic Errors
Emergency departments
Emergency Service, Hospital - standards
England
False negative errors
Hospital emergency rooms
Humans
Medical specialists
Methods
Radiography
Radiography - standards
Radiology
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Summary:The assessments by radiographers of 1628 consecutive patients referred for radiography in the casualty department were analysed. The radiographers missed abnormalities in the radiographs in 68 of the cases. Casualty officers missed abnormalities in 63 cases, but only 35 patients were common to both groups. Twenty eight of the radiographs interpreted wrongly by casualty officers were interpreted correctly by radiographers; 16 of these 28 were thought by the accident and emergency consultant to be clinically important. It is suggested that a system whereby radiographers signal abnormalities should be standard practice.
ISSN:0267-0623
0959-8138
1468-5833
DOI:10.1136/bmj.290.6466.421