Five-day Turnaround Time for Hospital Medical Autopsies: A Five-Year Experience. Issue 2 (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tormos, Lee M.; Schandl, Cynthia A.; Batalis, Nicholas I.; Presnell, S. Erin
• Is Part Of: Academic forensic pathology. Volume 5:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 233
• Page End: 239
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Forensic pathology -- Medical autopsy -- Turnaround time -- Autopsy protocol; Forensic pathology -- Periodicals; Forensic pathology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.23907/2015.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1925-3621

Abstract

In order to improve the autopsy usefulness for quality assurance, teaching, and enhanced clinical relevance, a five-day turnaround time for medical autopsies within the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina was implemented. Previously, turnaround times averaged approximately 30 days, with almost 20% extending to approximately 60 days. Procedures and processes were reviewed and changes were made in December 2009 in order to achieve an average turnaround time of five days on all medical autopsies, as was previously described in a 1996 article by Adickes and Sims; this is in lieu of the national standard as set by the College of American Pathologists, which recommends final reports be issued in 30 days for the majority of cases and a 60 days for all cases. Subsequently, turnaround times for the 2010–2014 calendar years averaged 4.72 days. Given our existing institutional framework, only minor changes were required to reduce turnaround times. Histology lab support is essential, as is commitment by the resident and attending physicians to review the cases in a timely fashion and order any case-appropriate special stains or immunostains upon review. In the instance where more time-consuming studies are required, the final report may be delayed or the additional studies may be reported in an addendum. The autopsy service has received mostly positive feedback from the clinical faculty, and the accelerated turnaround time improves teaching of residents and medical students on the autopsy rotation. The reduced turnaround time has not affected hospital billing.