Use of patient complaints to identify diagnosis-related safety concerns: a mixed-method evaluation (February 2021)

Summary

Patient complaints are associated with adverse events and malpractice claims but underused in patient safety improvement. The objective of this study, published in BMJ Quality and Safety, was to systematically evaluate the use of patient complaint data to identify safety concerns related to diagnosis as an initial step to using this information to facilitate learning and improvement.

Authors conclude that health systems could systematically analyse available data on patient complaints to monitor diagnostic safety concerns and identify opportunities for learning and improvement.