Improving family-clinician communication to reduce diagnostic mistakes in children
Re-engineering Patient and Family Communication to Improve Diagnostic Safety Resilience
This project uses a structured communication program to help clinicians and families share clearer information so children are less likely to have missed or delayed diagnoses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172413 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You and your child’s care team would use a clear, structured communication tool called PFC I-PASS during hospital stays, at discharge, and in follow-up care so everyone understands symptoms, warning signs, and next steps. The team will refine this tool to work across different settings and handoffs where diagnostic errors can happen. Researchers will track whether using the tool leads to fewer missed or delayed diagnoses and better family understanding of red flags. The project focuses on pediatric care and includes both inpatient and outpatient interactions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children and their families receiving care in pediatric settings—especially hospitalized children or those with chronic conditions who need clear follow-up instructions.
Not a fit: Adults, patients outside pediatric care, or those whose care does not involve family communication or handoffs are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower the number of missed or delayed diagnoses in children by improving how families and clinicians share and confirm important information.
How similar studies have performed: Related I-PASS communication programs have lowered medical errors (about a 38% reduction) and been pilot tested at discharge, though pediatric diagnostic safety overall remains understudied.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walsh, Kathleen Elizabeth — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Walsh, Kathleen Elizabeth
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.