One department's experience with increasing the autopsy rate.
A strategy to increase the autopsy percentage at a university hospital included improving communications with the attending and resident staffs, promptly issuing initial diagnoses, and forwarding appropriate findings to a committee for potential revision of patient care practices. New autopsy permit forms included a list of all physicians interested in the case and a request that the next of kin could make for a summary of findings. These requests were subsequently filled by a summary letter from the pathologist to the family with a copy sent to the attending physician. In order to dispel certain misconceptions and improve attitudes among hospital personnel, a videotape emphasizing the purpose and potential value of the autopsy was made for viewing by nurses, social workers, clergy, and hospital administrators.
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001344:Autopsy; D003142:Communication; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D009820:Ohio; D010337:Pathology Department, Hospital; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education; D014743:Videotape Recording