The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the focus on diagnostics, highlighting the relevance of accurate and timely testing to increase care quality and reduce healthcare- and community-related costs. Today’s diagnostic challenges are not unique to COVID-19. By some estimates, patients are medically misdiagnosed 10-15% of the time, making it likely that a significant number of people will experience at least one diagnostic gap in their lifetime.1 Equally important, that diagnosis might not be specific enough to identify diagnostic subcategories to further guide a personalized treatment plan.

 

COVID-19 has exposed key factors that limit diagnostic precision:

 

  • Data quality and quantity issues
  • Diagnostic data support only a snapshot of the patient
  • Health systems lack scalability, performance and analytical capabilities
  • Diagnosis often is a siloed, department-level process

 

We have identified four key steps you should consider to drive diagnostic accuracy:

 

1. Improve data quality

Improve data quality
COVID-19 tests that deliver high levels of sensitivity and specificity also provide more accurate results. Beyond improved test results, data should transition, when possible, from qualitative to quantifiable to allow for a more precise diagnosis and subclassification.
2. Provide comprehensive longitudinal data at the point of decision
Provide comprehensive longitudinal data at the point of decision
The diagnostic process can be bolstered by digital tools, such as wearables and lifestyle mobile apps, and infrastructure. While complying with privacy and security regulations, more comprehensive patient health data support proactive, preventable and early diagnosis decisions.
3. Generate actionable insights from large and complex data sets
Generate actionable insights from large and complex data sets
AI-based tools can support the complex integration of multiple data sources and comparison of individual patient data with aggregate data sets to streamline and improve clinical decision-making and the patient treatment pathway.
4. Build executive support and enterprise culture for precision diagnosis
Build executive support and enterprise culture for precision diagnosis
A systemic approach to diagnosis, supported by executive management, department heads and other key stakeholders, fosters cross-departmental collaboration and more patient-centric approaches that support improved outcomes for patients.

Is your organization ready? Discover more in this white paper.

 

Now is the time to adopt a precision diagnostic mindset, to embrace an integrated approach to diagnosis, and help your care teams develop robust insights for effective and proactive diagnosis and prevention.

Download the paper

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References:

1Frelick M, Vega CP (2020) How Big a Problem Is Misdiagnosis in Medicine? Medscape Education Clinical Briefs Medscape.org.