--- title: What to Do About Discovering a Missed Finding description: NORCAL’s Risk Management experts offer recommendations for what to do and what not to do after discovering a missed finding. image: https://files.norcal-group.com/hubfs/doctor-giving-patient-bad-news-soc.jpg --- - [Sign In](https://secure.proassurance.com?hsLang=en-us) - g Search Site [Contact Us](https://www.proassurance.com/contact-us/?hsLang=en-us): **844-466-7225** [![PRA-MMI-Logo®-RGB](https://www.norcal-group.com/hs-fs/hubfs/PRA-MMI-Logo%C2%AE-RGB.png?width=215&height=62&name=PRA-MMI-Logo%C2%AE-RGB.png)](https://www.norcal-group.com?hsLang=en-us)   - [About](https://norcal-group.com/about) - [About Us](https://norcal-group.com/about) - [Coverages](https://norcal-group.com/state) - [Claims](https://www.proassurance.com/report-a-claim/) - [Resources](https://www.norcal-group.com/resources) - [HIPAA Resources](https://proassurance.com/hipaa) - [Website Accessibility](https://proassurance.com/accessibility) - [Pay](https://www.norcal-group.com/pay) ## [Resource Library](https://www.norcal-group.com/library?hsLang=en-us) # What to Do About Discovering a Missed Finding June 22, 2017 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Consider these risk management recommendations for what to do and what not to do when you discover a missed finding. ![doctor consoling patient](https://files.norcal-group.com/hubfs/doctor-consoling-patient-soc.jpg) Recommendations for **what to do** when you discover a missed finding: - Standardize the method of identifying radiology discrepancies and adopt an action plan for responding to them. - Document discrepancies using objective language. - When addressing a discrepancy, choose succinct, neutral language that is non-judgmental. Avoid words and phrases such as: missed, error, mistake, overlooked, not appreciated, obviously present or should have been identified. For example, “in retrospect, the nodule in the left lower lobe was present on the radiograph of July 15, 2006,” is an appropriate way to indicate that an important finding has been overlooked. - When the patient has been discharged following the discovery of a discrepancy, communicate the new results to the patient and/or the patient’s PCP. - If addressing the contents of comparison reports, prepare a formal, written report for all studies that includes review of previous reports and, if indicated, comparison of previous images when possible. State if previous reports and images are not available and any attempts to obtain them. - Utilize a quality program to track and trend the discrepancies identified. Recommendations for **what not to do** when you discover a missed finding: - Blame or disparage other clinicians or the patient in the chart. - Offer personal (other than medical) opinions - Speculate on causes of poor outcomes - Make observations, notes or entries unrelated to patient care - Make derogatory statements or use language that blames another healthcare provider (e.g., “error,” “mistake in judgment”) - Engage in professional disputes in the report or chart - Include references to incident reports, legal actions, and attorney or risk management activities in the medical record (these should be maintained in a separate, confidential file) [![This content from Claims Rx](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/508142/35fb4f75-fa17-4779-a029-6a0441b4a787.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/508142/35fb4f75-fa17-4779-a029-6a0441b4a787) Filed under: [Radiology](https://www.norcal-group.com/library/topic/radiology), [Best Practices](https://www.norcal-group.com/library/topic/best-practices), [Physician](https://www.norcal-group.com/library/topic/physician), [Patient Care](https://www.norcal-group.com/library/topic/patient-care) ###  Topics  Please select Bad Outcomes & Complications Business Continuity Business Operations Community Health Consultations Cosmetic & Reconstructive Procedures Cultural Competency & Cultural Respect Cybersecurity Diagnosis & Testing Digital Practice Electronic Health Records (EHR) General Liability HIPAA Privacy & Confidentiality Industry Trends Information Security Informed Consent Leadership Litigation & Claims Marketing & Practice Building Medical Errors & Apology Medical Ethics Medical Records & Documentation Medication Errors Opioids Pain Management Patient Communication Patient Relationship Personal Finance & Career Philanthropy & Community Involvement Physician Burnout Physician Ratings Physician Wellness Practice Communication Practice Drift Practice Management Prescribing & Medication Public Relations & Communication Regulation & Compliance Reputation Management Unanticipated Outcomes Vicarious Liability ###  Specialties  Please select Emergency Medicine Family Practice Mental & Behavioral Health Obstetrics & Gynecology Oncology Ophthalmology Orthopedics Pain Management Specialist Pediatrics Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Radiology ### Recently Added Interested in NORCAL Group? **Contact Your Agent/Broker** or call 844.4NORCAL today * NORCAL Group, now part of ProAssurance, includes NORCAL Insurance Company and its affiliated companies. 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