title: A team-based approach to autopsy education: integrating anatomic and clinical pathology at the rotation level.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pathology residency training programs should aim to teach residents to think beyond the compartmentalized data of specific rotations and synthesize data in order to understand the whole clinical picture when interacting with clinicians.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test a collaborative autopsy procedure at Montefiore Medical Center (Bronx, New York), linking residents and attending physicians from anatomic and clinical pathology in the autopsy process from the initial chart review to the final report. Residents consult with clinical pathology colleagues regarding key clinical laboratory findings during the autopsy. This new procedure serves multiple functions: creating a team-based, mutually beneficial educational experience; actively teaching consultative skills; and facilitating more in-depth analysis of the clinical laboratory findings in autopsies.
  
  
  METHODS
  An initial trial of the team-based autopsy system was done from November 2010 to December 2012. Residents were then surveyed via questionnaire to evaluate the frequency and perceived usefulness of clinical pathology autopsy consultations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Senior residents were the most frequent users of clinical pathology autopsy consultation. The most frequently consulted services were microbiology and chemistry. Eighty-nine percent of the residents found the clinical pathology consultation to be useful in arriving at a final diagnosis and clinicopathologic correlation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The team-based autopsy is a novel approach to integration of anatomic and clinical pathology curricula at the rotation level. Residents using this approach develop a more holistic approach to pathology, better preparing them for meaningful consultative interaction with clinicians. This paradigm shift in training positions us to better serve in our increasing role as arbiters of outcomes measures in accountable care organizations.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: Tiffany Michele
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Hébert
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maleki
authors.forename: Ljiljana V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Vasovic
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Jacob J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Prystowsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010336:Pathology / Q000193:education*