Diagnostic error classification: factors contributing to diagnostic error, by DEER taxonomy category
| Initial diagnosis (index admission) | Final diagnosis (readmission) | A/P | History | PE | Tests | Assessment | Ref/Con | Follow-up |
| Neurological | ||||||||
| Encephalopathy | Ceftriaxone-induced encephalopathy | X | X | |||||
| Head and neck | ||||||||
| Pharyngitis | Peritonsillar abscess (ID) | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Cardiac | ||||||||
| Bacteraemia | Endocarditis (ID) | X | X | X | X | |||
| Malignancy, compression fractures | Endocarditis, osteomyelitis, discitis (ID) | X | X | X | X | |||
| Dyspnoea | Heart failure (V) | X | X | X | ||||
| Pulmonary | ||||||||
| Postobstructive pneumonia | COPD exacerbation | X | X | |||||
| Bacteraemia, pneumonia | Empyema (ID) | X | X | X | X | |||
| Lung mass | Pneumonia (ID) | X | X | X | ||||
| Urinary tract infection | Pulmonary embolism (V) | X | X | X | ||||
| Renal | ||||||||
| Hypovolaemic hyponatraemia | Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of ADH | X | X | X | X | |||
| Gastrointestinal | ||||||||
| Multifocal pulmonary emboli | Bleeding gastrointestinal ulcer | X | X | X | X | |||
| Pyelonephritis, ureteral stone | Colitis (ID) | X | X | X | ||||
| Necrotic liver metastasis | Liver abscess (ID) | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Abdominal bloating | Rectal stricture | X | X | X | X | |||
| Liver haematoma, fungaemia | Superinfected liver haematoma (ID) | X | X | |||||
| Genitourinary | ||||||||
| Urinary tract infection* | Bladder cancer (M) | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Urinary tract infection* | Bladder cancer (M) | X | X | X | X | |||
| Bacteriuria | Urinary tract infection (ID) | X | X | X | ||||
| Lower urinary tract symptoms | Urinary tract infection (ID) | X | X | X | X | |||
| Musculoskeletal | ||||||||
| Subdural haematoma | Foot ulcer | X | X | X | ||||
| Rheumatological | ||||||||
| Pneumonia, bacteraemia | Systemic lupus erythematosus flare | X | X | X | X | |||
Tests: tests (laboratory/radiology).
*The same patient with two readmissions.
ADH, antidiuretic hormone; A/P, access/presentation; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; DEER, Diagnostic Error and Evaluation Research; ID, infectious disease; M, malignancy; PE, physical examination; Ref/Con, referral/consultation; V, vascular.