Critical Appraisal of Diagnostic Studies

Abstract

It has been shown that diagnosis utilizes approximately 5% of healthcare costs, yet 60% of the clinical decision-making process is dependent on the diagnosis. Since approximately 40,000–80,000 hospital deaths per year in the United States are attributed to misdiagnosis, reduction of misdiagnosis is now being recognized as a major goal in patient safety efforts. Many of these deaths are preventable deaths that can be avoided if a correct and timely diagnosis is made. Pathology and laboratory medicine in their major roles as a source of diagnosis or a major contributor to the diagnostic process require a push toward more accurate and precise testing and diagnosis, and this requires integrating the best available evidence into the everyday practice of pathology.