3. Follow up.Finally, keep track of your progress after a treatment plan is prescribed, and stay in touch with your doctor if things don’t get better. If symptoms persist, it’s common for a patient to assume that the treatment is to blame, not the diagnosis, Newman-Toker says. And if the patient calls the doctor’s office and asks for a medication change or ahigher dose, “the doctor won’t rethink the case.” To get a second look, call the doctor and say, “I’m not getting better. Are we sure that I’ve got the right diagnosis?”
“I think people don’t realize how important patients’ voices are in a diagnostic process,” adds Singh,who is also a coauthor on the latestJAMAstudy. “Because it really helps us not only make the original diagnosis … but also to question the diagnosis later if things don’t get better.”
What is a diagnostic error?
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine defines diagnostic error as the failure to establish an accurate and timely explanation of the patient’s health problem, or failure to communicate that explanation to the patient. It can be the result of:
- A delayed diagnosis
- A wrong diagnosis
- A missed diagnosis
Source: Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine
A few other tips: Keep an accurate list of your medications, and bring this with you to all of your appointments. Also, keep your own records of test results, referrals and hospital admissions.
When to get a second opinion
If things don’t get better, or if you are suspicious of a diagnosis and want to confirm it, consider getting a second opinion from another physician, perhaps a specialist. Your doctor may even recommend it.
A study from researchers at Mayo Clinic found that around20 percent of peoplewho sought a second opinion got a different diagnosis from the first; about 66 percent of patients received a refined or redefined diagnosis when seeking a second opinion.
When asking for a second opinion, be as “direct and unemotional as possible,” the experts at Columbia Surgery in New York City, recommend. Some patients find this part difficult, especially if they have an established relationship with their doctor, Singh acknowledges. “But there are ways that you can express concerns assertively to the clinician, so that they understand what your concerns are,” he says. “And that could be, ‘This is a life-changing diagnosis. I’d like to see a second opinion to make sure we’re on the right track, and I’ll come back to you once I’m able to confirm that.’ ”
When the appointment for your second opinion rolls around, be sure to bring all the details from your previous diagnosis, including test results and recommended treatment plans.
Editor’sNote: This story, first published April 8, 2022, has been updated to include new information.
Rachel Nania writes about health care and health policy for AARP. Previously she was a reporter and editor for WTOP Radio in Washington, D.C. A recipient of a Gracie Award and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, she also participated in a dementia fellowship with the National Press Foundation.
As an expert in healthcare and diagnostic processes, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the discussion of diagnostic errors and the importance of patient involvement in the diagnostic process. My understanding is not only theoretical but also practical, rooted in the latest research and real-world applications.
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