title: Morbidity and mortality conferences in emergency departments: the French National Survey.
abstract: In France, emergency departments (EDs) are not yet required to implement Morbidity and Mortality Conferences (M&MCs), but it is likely that they will soon be a requirement. We conducted a national survey through e-mail to evaluate current M&MC practices in EDs in France. Of the 232 questionnaires sent out, 149 responses were analyzed (64%). In total, 73 departments claimed that they carried out M&MCs, 36 (81.1%) at a University hospital (UH) compared with 37 departments (35%) at a non-UH (P < 0.001). In 29% of departments, M&MCs are held once a month (n = 21), in 34% every 2 months, and in 37% of departments they are held at longer intervals. Specialists are invited in 80% of departments (n = 58). All departments carrying out M&MCs finish with corrective action. The frequency with which M&MCs are conducted in EDs in France is low but is increasing. Currently, M&MCs are mainly conducted at UHs; this practice should develop in general hospitals as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, SAMU 31, Purpan Hospital, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, France. valle.b@chu-toulouse.fr
authors.forename: Baptiste
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vallé
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gasq
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dehours
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Tricht
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bounes
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lauque
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ducassé
mesh_terms: D000552:Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005602:France; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009017:Morbidity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012308:Risk Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*