What typically causes medical errors?

Medical errors are often attributed to human mistakes that arise from faulty processes. This encompasses a broad range of issues, such as systemic flaws in protocols or workflow, inadequate safety checks, and poorly designed systems that lead to confusion or oversight. When processes are not optimized or are overly complex, it increases the likelihood of errors occurring, regardless of the knowledge or skill level of the provider involved.

For instance, if a healthcare facility has an inefficient electronic health record (EHR) system that makes it difficult for providers to enter or retrieve information, this can lead to miscommunication regarding a patient's medication or treatment plan. By focusing on improving processes, healthcare organizations can significantly reduce the incidence of human errors, promoting better patient safety.

While lack of knowledge, inadequate training, and poor communication skills are important factors in causing medical errors, they often relate back to the larger context of system design and process management. Improving these foundational processes directly addresses the primary cause of many errors in healthcare settings.