Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Jun;58(5):581-584.
doi: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2020.04.003. Epub 2020 Apr 11.

Reducing medical error during a pandemic

Affiliations

Reducing medical error during a pandemic

A G C Hay-David et al. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

On 30 January 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a public health emergency of international concern. By 11 March 2020, it was designated a pandemic owing to its rapid worldwide spread. In this short article we provide some information that might be useful and help equip colleagues to reduce medical error during a pandemic. We advocate a systems-based approach, rather than an individual's sole responsibility, and, look at ways to provide safer healthcare.

Keywords: covid-19; doctors; human factors; medical errors; pandemic.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Airbus A380 Simulator. Full motion high technology simulators are used every 6 months in aviation to assess and train airline pilots in both technical and non-technical skills.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
(a) HOSPEX (Hospital Exercise Simulation). (b) HOSPEX (Hospital Exercise Simulation).

References

    1. World Health Organization. Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Available from URL: https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-.... [accessed March 29, 2020].
    1. World Health Organisation. WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19–11 March. Available from URL: https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-re.... [Accessed 29 March 2020].
    1. World Health Organisation. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak situation. Available from URL: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019. [Accessed 29 March 2020].
    1. Iacobucci G. NHS wastes at least £1bn a year on avoidable errors, claims health secretary. BMJ. 2014;349(October):g6287. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g6287. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Makary M.A., Daniel M. Medical error-the third leading cause of death in the US. BMJ. 2016;353(May):i2139. doi: 10.1136/bmj.i2139. - DOI - PubMed