title: How can hospital autopsy rates be increased?
abstract: Autopsy studies have provided the foundation of our knowledge of clinical medicine. Despite the acknowledged value of this postmortem procedure, hospital autopsy rates have fallen to only 10% of deaths. New diseases and therapeutic modalities are in danger of not being properly evaluated. A number of proposals have been made to increase autopsy rates. While many of these proposals are excellent, the key to increasing autopsy rates is direct reimbursement by third-party payers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, TN 38104.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dempsey
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001344:Autopsy / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006761:Hospitals; D010336:Pathology; D011786:Quality Control; D014481:United States