Medical Error: Is the Solution Medical or Cognitive?

Authors

Jiajie Zhang, School of Health Information Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonFollow
Vimla L. Patel, Departments of Medical Informatics and Psychiatry, Columbia University
Todd R. Johnson, School of Health Information Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston,Follow

Publication Date

2002

Journal

J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2002 Nov–Dec; 9(6 Suppl 1): s75–s77.

Abstract

Is the solution for medical errors medical or cognitive? In this AMIA2001 panel on medical error, we argued that medical error is primarily an issue for cognitive science and engineering, not for medicine, although the knowledge of the practice of medicine is essential for the research and prevention of medical errors. The three panelists presented studies that demonstrate that cognitive research is the foundation for theories of medical errors and interventions of error reductions.

Comments

PMCID: PMC419424