The Problem with Lyme Disease Misdiagnosis Most patients with late or chronic Lyme disease waited years for proper diagnosis with devastating consequences.

By Lorraine Johnson, JD, MBA

This article shares Lorraine Johnson’s presentation to the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine.

O n November 3, 2018, I was honored to give a presentation at the Patient Summit of the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM)’s annual Diagnostic Errors in Medicine (DEM) conference.

This nonprofit organization seeks to integrate and engage patients and family members in all diagnostic improvement efforts, including research, to reduce diagnostic delays and avoid missed diagnosis.

LymeDisease.org is a patient partner with SIDM’s Patients Improving Research in Diagnosis (PAIRED) project. We value the opportunity to work with this group to amplify patient concerns about how misdiagnosis and delays in diagnosis harm patients.

My speech which draws on insights from the MyLymeData patient registry—highlights some of the factors that contribute to delayed diagnosis in Lyme disease.

Misdiagnosis is, unfortunately, quite common in Lyme disease. Most patients with late or chronic Lyme disease were either misdiagnosed or waited years for their diagnosis—with devastating consequences.

We know that early diagnosis in Lyme disease can spell the difference between patients who get well quickly and are able to get on with their lives and those who remain ill or whose course of treatment is much more difficult……………. Join or login below to continue reading.

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