title: Initial experience with a novel pre-sign-out quality assurance tool for review of random surgical pathology diagnoses in a subspecialty-based university practice.
abstract: We recently implemented a novel pre-sign-out quality assurance tool in our subspecialty-based surgical pathology practice at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. It randomly selects an adjustable percentage of cases for review by a second pathologist at the time the originating pathologist's electronic signature is entered and requires that the review be completed within 24 hours, before release of the final report. The tool replaced a retrospective audit system and it has been in successful use since January 2009. We report our initial experience for the first 14 months of its service. During this time, the disagreement numbers and levels were similar to those identified using the retrospective system, case turnaround time was not significantly affected, and the number of case amendments generated decreased. The tool is a useful quality assurance instrument and its prospective nature allows for the potential prevention of some serious errors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. owenssr@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: Luke T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Wiehagen
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Piccoli
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lassige
authors.forename: Samuel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Yousem
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dhir
authors.forename: Anil V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Parwani
mesh_terms: D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D010340:Pathology, Surgical / Q000592:standards*; D010380:Peer Review / Q000379:methods*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D057188:Workflow