Wrong-site errors: Why do they still happen so often?

Despite hospitals’ best efforts, wrong-site errors still happen far more often than anyone would like. New research sheds light on the root causes.

According to a recent study published in the Archives of Surgery, most wrong-site errors were caused at least in part by errors in judgment (85%) and the failure to use a “time-out” to confirm procedures (72%). By contrast, wrong-patient errors were more often caused by miscommunication (100%) and misdiagnosis (56%).

Interestingly, nonsurgical specialties were about as likely to be responsible for wrong-site and wrong-patient errors as surgical specialties.