Opinion: Tackling administrative harm can yield better decisions for better care
Awareness of the harms to patients caused by errors in diagnosis and treatment has been front and center for nearly 25 years. A different kind of harm, this one affecting patients and clinicians, is only now getting the recognition it deserves. Called administrative harm, it directly influences patient care and outcomes, professional practice, and organizational efficiencies.
The term was coined in 2022 by physician Walter J. O’Donnell in an article in The New England Journal of Medicine. Administrative harm refers to the “adverse consequences of administrative decisions within health care that impact work structure, processes, and programs.” It is pervasive and can come from any level of leadership, from administrative leaders as well as clinical leaders.
