Nearly all patients will experience a diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with devastating consequences. That conclusion by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in a recently released report, “Improving Diagnosis in Health Care,” should mobilize collaboration among patients, health care professionals and organizations, government, and the private sector to improve the diagnostic process. Diagnostic errors have received less attention than other medical errors, even though correct diagnosis is fundamental to subsequent choices. Diagnostic errors occur in every health care setting and clinical area.

The committee that was constituted to address this issue was charged with evaluating diagnostic error as a quality problem and examining the epidemiology, burden of harm, economic costs, and ways to address the problem. The committee’s recommendations are organized around 8 goals for improving diagnoses and reducing errors that require active participation from all stakeholders. This Viewpoint highlights the critical role that measurement plays in achieving these goals.

Read more about the diagnostic errors report