What did Leape identify as the three categories of medical errors?

Leape identified the three categories of medical errors based on common occurrences in healthcare that can impact patient safety. The correct answer highlights specific types of errors: medication errors, missed diagnoses, and operational errors.

Medication errors are mistakes that occur during the prescribing, dispensing, or administering of medications, which can lead to adverse outcomes for patients. Missed diagnoses refer to situations where a medical condition is not identified or is incorrectly diagnosed, resulting in a delay in effective treatment. Operational errors encompass errors related to processes and systems within healthcare settings, such as miscommunication among healthcare staff, which can lead to incorrect patient management.

By classifying errors in this way, Leape and others have aimed to draw attention to particular vulnerabilities in the healthcare system that can be addressed through targeted interventions and improved protocols. Understanding these categories helps healthcare professionals to identify where weaknesses lie and implement strategies to minimize risk to patients.