Page 49 - 2022 Risk Basics - Radiology

SVMIC Risk Basics: Radiology

• Employ a mindful systematic approach to the search of diagnostic

images and to the use of checklists and structured and semi-
structured reporting strategies, when appropriate

• Utilize cognitive debiasing approaches and metacognition, when

appropriate

• Use effective technologic aids, as appropriate, if any become

available

• Consistently focus on clear effective communication, especially clear

written communication, so that the radiologist’s message is not lost
or misunderstood

• Use harm mitigation and fail-safe strategies to place redundant
layers of protection between the radiologist and the patient,

including trigger tools to identify errors so that they can be
corrected before harm occurs

• Reduce, to the extent possible, interruptions and distractions

• Give attention to individual physician factors, such as illness or
advancing age, and it may be appropriate in some isolated cases

to assure that these factors do not significantly affect diagnostic
performance

• Employ systems-level thinking – understanding the individual
radiologist’s role within the context of the larger healthcare team

and process and empathetically understanding the roles and needs
of others within that system

• Foster a blame-free and just culture
22

22 Understanding and Confronting Our Mistakes: the Epidemiology of Error in Radiology and Strategies for Error
Reduction, Radiographics 2015; 35: 1668-1676.

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