Frontline providers' and patients' perspectives on improving diagnostic safety in the emergency department: a qualitative study.
The emergency department (ED) presents unique challenges in making and communicating an accurate diagnosis. This study sought perspectives of patients, nurses, and physicians about diagnostic vulnerabilities faced in the ED and suggested interventions. All three groups proposed that inter- and intrateam communication could be improved, for example with structured hand-offs between emergency medical services and the ED, and between members of the care team.