How does your perception impact your clinical decisions? We enter new situations with our heuristics and beliefs firmly in place. What if our values render us inert to our surroundings, the patient in front of us, or even data in support of new clinical evidence?

1. When the idea to improve numeracy in medicine was conceived
“teaching consumers of clinical evidence how to improve their
perception” was just an abstract idea.
I thought the problem was the complexity of the data.
Biostatistics isn’t for the faint of hurt after all. But what I learned
from engaging with audiences of journalists and medical
professionals blew my mind.
We don’t see the clues. Years of hearing “when you hear hoof
beats think horses, not zebras” has created a confirmatory bias
problem…
What if instead of numbers as data—we substitute art. How are
your observation skills?
I know you are busy. I have designed the presentation as distinct
breaths or touch points. Move between them when you are ready.
Also, the examples will change consistently to accommodate new
participants. We don’t want any spoilers.
SPEAKER, AUTHOR, INSIGHT ANALYST
Bonny P McClain

2. Can we improve our perception?
Learning to observe, not just see…
• Use all of your senses
• Be aware of heuristics
• Don’t rely on digital technology
• Develop time and place
We need a new language to communicate—descriptive vs. prescriptive

3. Our focus filters out “noise” so efficiently– it shapes our perception

4. Harvard researchers found that 83 percent of radiologists didn't notice the
gorilla in the top right portion of this image.

5. Using art as data…

6. Norman Rockwell

11. Using data as data…

12. Perspective, perspective, perspective…

13. Mathews et al. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders (2015) 15:82

14. CDC Asked to List Medical Error as ‘3rd
Most Common Cause of Death in US’
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/barbara-hollingsworth/cdc-asked-list-medical-error-3rd-most-common-cause-death-us
http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/bmj-study-medical-errors-flawed-not-innovative-doctor-writes/2016-05-10
http://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i2139
BMJ study on medical errors flawed, not
'innovative,' doctor writes
Medical error—the third leading cause of death in the
US

15. Preventable adverse events
• Errors of commission,
• Errors of omission,
• Errors of communication,
• Errors of context,
• Diagnostic errors
James, JT, Journal of Patient Safety. September 2013-vol9-issue 3-p122-128
End of presentation highlights…
Categories of preventable adverse events:

16. http://www.dataanddonuts.org
@graphemeconsult
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnypmcclain