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International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics

AHFE 2020: Advances in Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare and Medical Devices pp 77–82Cite as

The Value of the Medical Autopsy as a Quality Improvement Tool in Modern Diagnostic Medicine

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Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 1205))

Abstract

The quality of healthcare is an emerging concern worldwide. In any health care process, adverse events resulting from errors are inevitable. The role of the medical autopsy is evolving yet it remains a cornerstone in the progress of healthcare quality and diagnostic medicine. Although the autopsy has been instrumental in understanding disease processes for the past 3000 years, there has been a concerning decrease in autopsy rates. This trend is influenced by barriers pertaining to resources, consent, and medicolegal hesitations. Reversing the trend in falling autopsy rates will require recognition of the role of the medical autopsy as an essential feedback mechanism in healthcare quality improvement. The autopsy has shaped the current state of medicine and with appropriate implementation, support, and collaboration will continue to guide the path forward.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northern Medical Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Prince George, BC, V2N 4Z9, Canada

    Patrick Seitzinger

  2. Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon Health Region, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W8, Canada

    Zoher Rafid-Hamed & Jawahar (Jay) Kalra

  3. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

    Jawahar (Jay) Kalra

Authors
  1. Patrick Seitzinger
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  2. Zoher Rafid-Hamed
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  3. Jawahar (Jay) Kalra
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jawahar (Jay) Kalra .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Royal University Hospital, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

    Jay Kalra

  2. Center for Applied Systems Engineering, Veterans Affairs, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Nancy J. Lightner

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Seitzinger, P., Rafid-Hamed, Z., Kalra, J.(. (2020). The Value of the Medical Autopsy as a Quality Improvement Tool in Modern Diagnostic Medicine. In: Kalra, J., Lightner, N. (eds) Advances in Human Factors and Ergonomics in Healthcare and Medical Devices. AHFE 2020. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1205. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50838-8_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50838-8_11

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-50837-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-50838-8

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