Patient safety in dermatology: a ten-year update

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Patient Safety
• Medical Error Analysis

Background:

• This study updates and expands upon the 2010 review of patient safety in dermatology.
• It addresses the evolving landscape of dermatologic practice and potential patient safety risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of patient safety and medical error in dermatology.
• To identify new and emerging sources of error in dermatologic practice.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed (NCBI, NLM) for English language articles from 2009-2019.
• Articles were critically evaluated, with 2020 references added for specific topics including medication errors, diagnostic errors, telemedicine, office-based surgery, infections (COVID-19), falls, laser safety, scope of practice, and electronic health records.

Main Results:

• Hospitals and clinics are increasingly adopting high-reliability organization methods to improve practice patterns.
• New potential error sources have emerged due to advancements in procedural/cosmetic dermatology, guidelines, and electronic health records.
• While systems are important, human factors like teamwork and leadership are crucial for patient safety.

Conclusions:

• Despite increased research, there remains a significant need for continued studies and reporting on dermatologic patient safety.
• The goal is to reduce preventable errors and enhance the quality of patient care in dermatology.
• Effective teamwork and leadership are essential complements to systems-based approaches in patient safety initiatives.