The Safer Dx Checklist: 10 high-priority organizational practices for diagnostic excellence

Summary

The Safer Dx Checklist is an organisational self-assessment tool with 10 recommended practices to achieve diagnostic excellence.

Content

How to use the checklist

1. Identify a senior leader (e.g., chief quality officer, chief patient safety officer, chief medical officer, or other clinician with oversight of quality) in the organisation who can serve as the champion for learning and exploration of diagnostic excellence.
2. Establish a multidisciplinary team of individuals from various clinical and non-clinical disciplines, including quality and safety, patient representatives, medical educators, and trainees. This team should meet regularly to review and analyse the current state of diagnostic safety and work toward implementation of all 10 checklist items.
3. Complete the checklist as a team or independently. If independent review is preferred, team members should discuss responses and come to consensus on next steps.
4. Develop an action plan that includes clear next steps, metrics of progress, and roles and responsibilities to oversee implementation. The plan needs to be supported by the senior leader champion.
5. Identify regular checkpoints for follow up that include annual review of the checklist and periodic monitoring and revisions to the action plan.