Digital multidisciplinary conferences (MDCs) introduced at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have demonstrated significant effectiveness in identifying and preventing imaging-related medical errors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regular meetings held between radiologists and intensive care physicians, which transitioned to online formats due to social distancing measures, resulted in a remarkable reduction of quality management (QM) errors.
Before the pandemic, MDCs had been initiated to facilitate interdisciplinary communication and improve patient safety through collaborative evaluations of complex cases. The study analyzed 333 MDCs conducted from January 2020 to December 2021, which included the review of 1324 radiological examinations involving patients with varying conditions, including those affected by COVID-19.
According to the analysis, QM events were identified in only 2.7% of the examinations, a dramatic decrease compared to the 14% error rate documented prior to the pandemic. This decrease indicates the effectiveness of MDCs as both quality improvement tools and mechanisms for error prevention.
Notably, the study's authors stated, “The rising COVID-19 pandemic had no impact on the incidence of QM events: QM incidence...remained steady at a consistently lower level compared to our pre-pandemic study population.” This continued success can be attributed to the rapid adaptation of the MDC format, which was modified to accommodate the challenges posed by the pandemic.
The implementation of online meetings addressed the barriers to communication created by the necessity of minimizing face-to-face interactions. The researchers emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals during challenging times, noting, “The established format of MDCs may be effectively adjusted to varying challenges in the future.”
Throughout the study, 7.3% of patients discussed during MDCs were identified as COVID-positive, but this was not correlated to an increase in QM events. The focus on rapid feedback following examinations facilitated quick identification of errors, allowing healthcare teams to make necessary adjustments to clinical practices.
Overall, the findings reveal how MDCs, initially planned as part of regular quality management measures, have evolved to meet the urgent needs of healthcare practitioners responding to COVID-19. The ability of this digitalized format to sustain error prevention and improve outcomes during the pandemic showcases its value for future applications.
Looking forward, the successful integration of digital communication channels for quality management within hospitals suggests promising opportunities for enhancing patient safety and response times to medical errors. With healthcare systems globally still facing uncertainties and potential crises, approaches like digitalised MDCs could serve as effective frameworks for safeguarding against errors and ensuring quality care.