Contextual errors in medical decision making: overlooked and understudied.

Weiner SJ, Schwartz A. Acad Med. 2015 Dec 1; [Epub ahead of print].

Physicians should consider contextual issues when developing care plans with patients. This commentary discusses how inattention to patient context, such as environmental or social factors, can contribute to medical errors. Contextual factors that physicians should consider include finances, religion, social support, and access to care.