RT Journal
A1 Lippi G, Plebani M
T1 INformatics aids to reduce failure rates in notification of abnormal outpatient test results
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2009
FD October 26
VO 169
IS 19
SP 1806
OP 1818
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.367
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2009.367
AB 

			The health care context is characterized by a high degree of complexity, involving a kaleidoscope of medical disciplines. Although medical errors are traditionally deemed as incorrect diagnoses, as mishandled clinical procedures, or, globally, as results of inappropriate clinical decision making, diagnostic errors are a frequent occurrence, which may have an impact on patient's care and ultimately jeopardize patient's safety.1 Wrong, missed, or delayed diagnoses can result from a variety of causes, including failure to order an appropriate diagnostic test, identification errors, tests performed on unsuitable specimens, release of results despite a poor performance of quality controls, delayed notification of critical values, and incorrect interpretation of test results.1