LM102 - Managing Medical Errors in Pediatric Audiology: Lessons from a Major Medical Center

Abstract:
This presentation examines medical errors in pediatric audiology at a major medical center, focusing on the root causes and institutional responses. While audiology errors are generally low-risk, they can have lasting impacts on children's development and quality of life. We will discuss common errors such as misdiagnosis and inadequate follow-up, highlighting the importance of precise testing and adherence to JCIH guidelines. Ethical questions surrounding misdiagnoses, communication with families, and institutional accountability will be addressed. By fostering a culture of transparency, we aim to encourage reporting and continuous improvement, ultimately ensuring safer hearing healthcare practices.

Summary:
Medical errors in pediatric audiology pose significant challenges to patient safety and care quality. This presentation will explore a series of medical errors identified within a major medical center, analyzing the root causes and the institution's strategic responses. Pediatric audiology is critical, as early detection and intervention are vital for optimizing language acquisition and social development in children with hearing loss. However, lapses in communication, misinterpretations of diagnostic data, and procedural oversights can lead to detrimental outcomes in this vulnerable population.

This talk will provide an overview of the medical errors encountered in pediatric audiology that place patients at high risk, including misdiagnosis, delayed intervention, and inadequate follow-up care. These errors often stem from underlying systemic issues, such as insufficient training, poor interdepartmental communication, and a lack of standardized protocols. Audiology as a field is relatively low risk for frequency and severity of clinical errors related to life-threatening consequences. However, errors in audiologic care can cause long-lasting and debilitating impacts on quality of life, specifically affect and delay development in children. The complexity of diagnosing and treating children with diverse medical needs places a significant burden on clinical providers to ensure that accurate and reliable results are obtained. According to JCIH Guidelines (2019), audiologists should provide a diagnosis of hearing loss before 6 months of age; this requires skilled audiologists in the pediatric specialty who can conduct testing with precision and accuracy.

Electrophysiologic assessments in pediatric hearing healthcare involve nuanced procedures. Errors in testing conditions or interpretation of results can lead to misdiagnosis and subsequent mismanagement of children’s hearing health. This presentation explores the ethical implications and systemic challenges related to medical errors in pediatric hearing assessments, focusing on the response to misdiagnosis and the development of protocols to prevent future errors. Although avoidable, medical errors remain a risk in pediatric hearing healthcare. It is essential to understand how such errors are communicated to families and how clinics and hospitals can respond effectively. Additionally, building prevent protocols and action plans is crucial for minimizing future risks.

This presentation will highlight significant medical errors occurring at a major hospital center and the impact these errors had on patients, providers, and the institution. Discussion will include the serious decisions made by hospital leadership to rectify these errors. By fostering a culture of transparency and accountability, our institution aims to encourage reporting of near misses and actual errors without fear of punitive action, enabling continuous learning and improvement. Most importantly, this presentation will provoke discussion on the consequences of audiologists lacking the skills to perform tests. What is our responsibility, as providers, to check in on our skills and ensure we are not doing harm?

Brief Summary of Clinical Takeaways:
The clinical takeaway for this session emphasizes the need for improved training, standardized protocols, and effective communication to prevent medical errors in pediatric audiology.