Differential diagnosis: The key to reducing diagnosis error, measuring diagnosis and a mechanism to reduce healthcare costs

Abstract

Differential diagnosis has been taught in medical schools for over 100 years and yet it is not routinely carried out in practice; nor is it required to be documented within medical notes. I strongly believe that the routine use of a differential diagnosis would not only substantially reduce the level of diagnostic error but would also greatly reduce the cost of healthcare. This solution to the seemingly intractable problems of diagnostic error and rising healthcare costs is simple and has been with us for 100 years.