The death of the hospital autopsy in Australia? The hospital autopsy rate is declining dramatically

Pathology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 645-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditi Raut ◽  
Juliana Andrici ◽  
Aldo Severino ◽  
Anthony J. Gill
Keyword(s):  
Autopsy Rate

Declining Clinical Autopsy Rates Versus Increasing Medicolegal Autopsy Rates in Halifax, Nova Scotia

2001 ◽  
Vol 125 (7) ◽  
pp. 924-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marnie J. Wood ◽  
Ashim K. Guha
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Retrospective Review ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Downward Trend ◽  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Autopsy Rate ◽  
Autopsy Data ◽  
Medicolegal Autopsy ◽  
Over Time

Abstract The downward trend in the rate of clinical autopsies has been extensively documented in the literature. This decline is of concern when the benefits of the clinical autopsy are considered. In contrast, the rate of medicolegal autopsies has not been studied in such detail. What little reference there is to medicolegal autopsy rates suggests an absence of the same downward trend. A retrospective review of autopsy data over a 13-year period from the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Nova Scotia was conducted. This review showed a difference between the rates of clinical and medicolegal autopsies for the metro Halifax area. The clinical autopsy rate was consistently less than 30% and declined to 15% in 1999, while the medicolegal autopsy rate was consistently greater than 40% and rose to 62% in 1999. The literature proposes many reasons for the decline in the clinical autopsy rate, but none for this difference between rates. The explanation proposed here is the changing and currently uncertain purpose of the clinical autopsy versus the clear, and consistent over time, purpose of the medicolegal autopsy.

scholarly journals Academic autopsies in Brazil - a national survey

2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aloísio Felipe-Silva ◽  
Márcia Ishigai ◽  
Thaís Mauad
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
Undergraduate Education ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Autopsy Rate ◽  
Residency Programs ◽  
Steady Decrease ◽  
Healthcare Practice ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Academic Services ◽  
General Organization

Objective: To investigate the number and rate of academic autopsies, general organization, educational and research in Brazilian academic services. Methods: Standardized questionnaires were sent to Brazilian medical schools (n=177) and active pathology residency programs (n=53) from March to June 2009. Data were collected for years 2003 to 2008. Results: Thirty-two academic services in 11 Brazilian states answered the survey. Twenty-one (65.6%) perform less than a hundred autopsies for natural causes and less than fifty pediatric or fetal autopsies/year. Twenty-four (75%) perform less than a hundred adult autopsies/year. Many institutions (46.9%) reported a drop in the number of autopsies in a six-year period. The total autopsy count and autopsy rate in 2008 ranged 1-632 (median = 80), and 0-66% (mean = 10.6%), respectively. A steady decrease in the total count of autopsies in a pool of 19 institutions was observed (p<0.01). Median autopsy rates have fallen from 19.3%, in 2003, to 10.6%, in 2008 (p=0.07). Significant discrepancies at autopsies led to changes in institutional healthcare practice in 37.5% of the services. The low number of autopsies was a limiting factor in undergraduate education for 25% of respondents. A minimum number of autopsies is required to complete the pathology residency program in 34.6% of the services. Conclusion: The total number and the rate of academic autopsies have decreased in Brazil between 2003 and 2008. The number of autopsies and the general organization of academic services must be enhanced to improve medical education, research, and the quality control of patient care.

Autopsy rate

1985 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 1179
Keyword(s):  
Autopsy Rate

Improving the autopsy rate at a University Hospital

1992 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 423-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherri A. Clayton ◽  
Steven L. Sivak
Keyword(s):  
University Hospital ◽  
Autopsy Rate

Low Perinatal Autopsy Rate in Malaysia: Time for a Change

2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 362-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geok Chin Tan ◽  
Abdul Rahman Hayati ◽  
Teck Yee Khong
Keyword(s):  
Autopsy Rate ◽  
Perinatal Autopsy

Introduction of postmortem CT increases the postmortem examination rate without negatively impacting the rate of traditional autopsy in daily practice: an implementation study

2020 ◽  
pp. jclinpath-2020-206734
Author(s):  
Max G Mentink ◽  
Frans C H Bakers ◽  
Casper Mihl ◽  
Max J Lahaye ◽  
Roger J M W Rennenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Daily Practice ◽  
Postmortem Examination ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Implementation Study ◽  
Autopsy Rate ◽  
Postmortem Ct ◽  
Next Of Kin ◽  
Median Time Interval ◽  
Mortality Review ◽  
Postmortem Examinations

AimThe aim of this implementation study was to assess the effect of postmortem CT (PMCT) and postmortem sampling (PMS) on (traditional) autopsy and postmortem examination rates. Additionally, the feasibility of PMCT and PMS in daily practice was assessed.MethodsFor a period of 23 months, PMCT and PMS were used as additional modalities to the autopsy at the Department of Internal Medicine. The next of kin provided consent for 123 postmortem examinations. Autopsy rates were derived from the Dutch Pathology Registry, and postmortem examination rates were calculated for the period before, during and after the study period, and the exclusion rate, table time, time interval to informing the referring clinicians with results and the time interval to the Multidisciplinary Mortality Review Board (MMRB) meeting were objectified to assess the feasibility.ResultsThe postmortem examination rate increased (from 18.8% to 32.5%, p<0.001) without a decline in the autopsy rate. The autopsy rate did not change substantially after implementation (0.2% decrease). The exclusion rate was 2%, the table time was 23 min, and a median time interval of 4.1 hours between PMCT and discussing its results with the referring clinicians was observed. Additionally, more than 80% of the MMRB meetings were held within 8 weeks after the death of the patient.ConclusionsOur study shows that the implementation of a multidisciplinary postmortem examination is feasible in daily practice and does not adversely affect the autopsy rate, while increasing the postmortem examination rate.

scholarly journals Assessment of health care quality in the tertiary level pediatric hospitals in Serbia

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-27
Author(s):  
Nina Kuburovic ◽  
Slavisa Djuricic ◽  
Andjelija Neskovic ◽  
Velimir Dedic ◽  
Vladimir Kuburovic
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Quality Indicators ◽  
Pediatric Surgery ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Tertiary Level ◽  
Autopsy Rate ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Significant Difference

Background/Aim. It is necessary to improve the quality of health care for children. Assessment data would provide new insights into better treatment outcomes. The aim of this descriptive study was to estimate and to compare applied quality indicators in five pediatric inpatient tertiary level institutions in Serbia during the period from January 1st to December 31st 2008. Methods. Quality data and indicators were collected in the Institute for Public Health of Serbia ?Dr. Milan Jovanovic Batut?. Descriptive statistics and chisquare test were used for data analysis. Results. The average length of stay (ALOS) in pediatric departments was 7.51 ? 1.30 days (5.88-8.91 days). In the same period, ALOS in pediatric surgery departments was 5.85 ? 1.50 days (3.58-7.57 days). The average number of nurses per occupied bed was 0.76 ? 0.20 and 1.09 ? 0.36 in pediatric and in pediatric surgery departments, respectively. The number of operated patients per surgeon was in the range 51.0-160.5. The annual case fatality rate in pediatric departments was estimated to 0.72% ? 0.20%, whereas in pediatric surgery departments it was 0.34% ? 0.25%. The autopsy rate was estimated to 0.00%-63.16% in pediatric departments, and 37.14%-80.00% in pediatric surgery departments. There was statistically significant difference among the five hospitals regarding the following indicators of quality of work: total annual mortality rate of patients, autopsy rate, number of rate of patients, autopsy rate, number of patients referred to other institutions, both in pediatric and pediatric surgery departments. Conclusion. There is a significant difference among the five hospitals regarding indicators of quality of work. Obligatory set of quality indicators on the basis of legislative acts are the indicators of general quality of work in hospital. It is necessary to establish specific pediatric quality indicators and to define national standards related to these indicators.

Letter To The Editor

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 797-798
Author(s):  
Harald H. Knöbel ◽  
Chien-Jen Chen ◽  
Kung-Yee Liang
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome ◽  
Infant Death ◽  
Sudden Infant Death ◽  
Sudden Infant ◽  
Autopsy Rate ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
Letter To The Editor

We are grateful to Steven Koehler for his comments on our study on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and air pollution in Taiwan.1 The criticism focuses on the autopsy rate and the new, but well-referenced finding, that in Taiwan, and probably other Asian countries, the majority of classic SIDS is coded as suffocation. Following is an itemized reply to the issues raised. SIDS has been assumed to be a phenomenon of western countries. In China and Hong Kong it is thought to be virtually nonexistent2,3 Japan and Taiwan have officially published rates that are extremely low.4,5

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