ECRI Institute names diagnostic errors and improper management of test results in electronic health records (EHRs) among the most serious patient safety challenges facing healthcare leaders in 2019. Diagnostic errors and managing test results remain in the top spot two years in a row. Released in conjunction with National Patient Safety Awareness week, ECRI’s Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for 2019 raises the profile of safety issues that pose risks to patients and healthcare providers.
ECRI Institute’s 2019 list of concerns addresses systemic issues facing health systems, such as behavioral health concerns, clinician burnout, and skills development. Mobile health technology, number four on the list, opens up a world of opportunities by transporting healthcare to the home, but also presents potential risks. The report also highlights ongoing clinical issues with infections from peripheral IV lines, sepsis, and anti-microbial stewardship. In the outpatient setting, at least 30% of antibiotic use is unnecessary.
2019 Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns
- Diagnostic Stewardship and Test Result Management Using EHRs
- Antimicrobial Stewardship in Physician Practices and Aging Services
- Burnout and Its Impact on Patient Safety
- Patient Safety Concerns Involving Mobile Health
- Reducing Discomfort with Behavioral Health
- Detecting Changes in a Patient’s Condition
- Developing and Maintaining Skills
- Early Recognition of Sepsis across the Continuum
- Infections from Peripherally Inserted IV Lines
- Standardizing Safety Efforts across Large Health Systems
ECRI’s list of patient safety concerns does not necessarily represent the issues that occur most frequently or are most severe. It identifies new risks, how existing concerns may be changing because of new technology or care delivery models, and persistent issues that need renewed attention or that might have additional solutions.
