AHRQ: Toolkit for engaging patients to improve diagnostic safety

Summary

Research suggests that a key factor contributing to diagnostic errors is the breakdown of communication between patients and healthcare professionals. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in the United States has developed this toolkit to promote enhanced communication and information sharing between patients and healthcare professionals. It is designed to help patients, families, and health professionals work together as partners to improve diagnostic safety.

Content

This toolkit contains two strategies which when paired together enhance communication and information sharing within the patient-provider encounter to improve diagnostic safety. Each strategy contains practical materials to support adoption of the strategy within office-based practices.

1. Be The Expert On You - a patient-facing strategy that prepares patients and their families to tell their personal health stories in a clear, concise way.
2. 60 Seconds To Improve Diagnostic Safety - this prepares providers to practice deep and reflective listening for one minute at the start of a patient-encounter.