We have located links that may give you full text access.
Improving the autopsy rate at a university hospital.
American Journal of Medicine 1992 April
PURPOSE: Although the autopsy is widely recognized as an invaluable tool for medical education, as well as the gold standard by which the accuracy of diagnoses are measured, there has been a steady decline in the autopsy rate over the last 20 years. At Westchester County Medical Center, a university hospital of New York Medical College, we observed an alarming drop in our autopsy rate. We realized that the methods used to obtain consent from the family of the deceased were haphazard and often left to the junior houseofficer available. We hypothesized that we could increase the autopsy rate by explicitly involving senior housestaff in the task of obtaining autopsy consent after giving them formal instruction in the technique of asking for consent and by having them record information regarding their encounters with families.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data concerning the frequency of autopsies at Westchester County Medical Center were collected for a 3-month period in 1990. A corresponding period in 1991 was designated the study period during which our intervention was initiated. All medical examiner's cases were excluded for both periods since autopsy consent for these patients is not at the discretion of the family. At the start of the study period and each month thereafter, formal instruction regarding obtaining permission for autopsy was given to all senior residents assigned to direct patient care duty. The senior resident was required to complete a data form regarding autopsy request on each patient who died.
RESULTS: Nine autopsies among 89 deaths (10%) were obtained during the study period in 1990, compared with 31 autopsies among 116 deaths (27%) in 1991 (p less than 0.01). In 1991, autopsies were more likely to be obtained when death was unexpected (p less than 0.05).
CONCLUSION: The institution of a formal program to educate and involve the senior resident staff in obtaining autopsy consent can significantly improve the autopsy rate at a university hospital.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data concerning the frequency of autopsies at Westchester County Medical Center were collected for a 3-month period in 1990. A corresponding period in 1991 was designated the study period during which our intervention was initiated. All medical examiner's cases were excluded for both periods since autopsy consent for these patients is not at the discretion of the family. At the start of the study period and each month thereafter, formal instruction regarding obtaining permission for autopsy was given to all senior residents assigned to direct patient care duty. The senior resident was required to complete a data form regarding autopsy request on each patient who died.
RESULTS: Nine autopsies among 89 deaths (10%) were obtained during the study period in 1990, compared with 31 autopsies among 116 deaths (27%) in 1991 (p less than 0.01). In 1991, autopsies were more likely to be obtained when death was unexpected (p less than 0.05).
CONCLUSION: The institution of a formal program to educate and involve the senior resident staff in obtaining autopsy consent can significantly improve the autopsy rate at a university hospital.
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment.Clinical Research in Cardiology : Official Journal of the German Cardiac Society 2024 April 12
Proximal versus distal diuretics in congestive heart failure.Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation 2024 Februrary 30
Efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy in chronic insomnia: A review of clinical guidelines and case reports.Mental Health Clinician 2023 October
World Health Organization and International Consensus Classification of eosinophilic disorders: 2024 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management.American Journal of Hematology 2024 March 30
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app