Report and Recommendations of the Association of Pathology Chairs’ Autopsy Working Group

Davis, Gregory G.; Winters, Gayle L.; Fyfe, Billie; Hooper, Jody E.; Iezzoni, Julia C.; Johnson, Rebecca L.; Markwood, Priscilla S.; Naritoku, Wesley Y.; Nashelsky, Marcus; Sampson, Barbara A.; Steinberg, Jacob J.; Stubbs, James R.; Timmons, Charles F.; Hoffman, Robert D.

doi:10.1177/2374289518793988

Cited by 15 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…An Autopsy Working Group of the Association of Pathology Chairs recently has issued a report addressing the continued relevance of the autopsy in education of pathologists. 108 …”

Section: Ongoing Risks and Opportunities For The Autopsymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of the Autopsy in Medicine: Perspectives of Pathology Colleagues

et al. 2019

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This article presents a perspective on the importance of the autopsy in medical practice and science based on experiences of the authors as physician-scientists involved in autopsy practice. Our perspectives are presented on the seminal contributions of the autopsy in the areas of cardiovascular disease, including congenital heart disease, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and myocardial infarction, and infectious disease, including tuberculosis and viral infections. On the positive side of the future of the autopsy, we discuss the tremendous opportunities for important research to be done by application of advanced molecular biological techniques to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks obtained at autopsy. We also note with concern the countervailing forces impacting the influence of pathology in education and clinical practice at our academic medical centers, which also present impediments to increasing autopsy rates. Our challenge as academic pathologists, whose careers have been molded by involvement in the autopsy, is to counter these trends. The challenges are great but the benefits for medicine and society are enormous.

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“…An Autopsy Working Group of the Association of Pathology Chairs recently has issued a report addressing the continued relevance of the autopsy in education of pathologists. 108 …”

Section: Ongoing Risks and Opportunities For The Autopsymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of the Autopsy in Medicine: Perspectives of Pathology Colleagues

et al. 2019

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“…An additional benefit anecdotally noted by the authors is the effect of death certificate review on autopsy rates. While many residency programs struggle with decreasing autopsy volume, 14,15 our institution has experienced increasing autopsy rates since initiating this program. While there may be several underlying factors affecting this change, we believe that the review program has increased the visibility and accessibility of the autopsy service to our clinical colleagues.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autopsy Service Death Certificate Review

Krywanczyk

Amoresano

Tatsumi

et al. 2020

Archives of Pathology &Amp; Laboratory Medicine

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Context.— Despite the importance of accurate death statistics for epidemiologic studies and public health initiatives, there remains a high frequency of errors in death certification. This deficiency can be addressed by the hospital autopsy service. Objectives.— To improve the quality and accuracy of death certificates issued in the hospital and improve resident and clinician education by initiating a death certificate review process, performed by pathology residents while on their hospital autopsy rotation. Design.— The resident reviewed all death certificates issued in the hospital daily through the state electronic death certificate filing system, and correlated with the decedent's medical record. When errors were found, they filed an amended death certificate with the state. If applicable, the Office of the Medical Examiner was contacted to investigate. The original certifying physician was then contacted via email with an explanation for the amendment. Results.— In 12 months, 590 death certificates were issued by the hospital. Eighty-eight of 590 (15%) were amended. Of those 88 amended, 41 (47%) were missing an underlying cause of death, 7 (8%) had an inaccurate cause of death, 41 (47%) failed to include relevant contributory causes of death, and 17 (19%) had major typographic errors. Of 88, 24 (27%) fell under the Office of the Medical Examiner's jurisdiction and were reported with a subsequent change in the manner of death in 23 of 88 cases (26%). Conclusions.— Death certificates review by the autopsy service improves the accuracy of death certification, impacts resident and clinician education, and serves as quality assurance for both the hospital and the state.

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“…On the contrary, while a few pathologists at the 2014 meeting of the Association of Pathology Chairs motioned for the abolishment of autopsy from the educational setting, the Autopsy Working Group later declared that its practice is integral to medicine and endorsed it as a pivotal component of anatomic pathology residency programs, with further recommendations to revolutionize it to current practice and employ uniform digitization [ 46 ].…”

Section: Where Does the Future Lie?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Could COVID-19 Trigger a Rebirth in Anatomy Education? A Glimpse of Anatomists’ Responses to Pandemics of the Past and Present

Naidoo

Satyapal

Lazarus

2021

SN Compr. Clin. Med.

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Pandemics are nothing unusual but indeed lead to devastating effects that play a pivotal role in reshaping human history. The COVID-19 outbreak is currently responsible for major educational crises globally as most of the world has been faced with a mandated lockdown, and forced closure of educational institutions, including medical colleges. Anatomists have therefore been challenged to unlock technology in effort to achieve best deliverables for their discipline, without the use of traditional teaching aids such as the cadaver, osteological banks, prosected specimens, models, and microscopic slides. At present, the virtual classroom is the only option for the anatomist, thereby omitting vital aspects of the hidden curriculum such as ethical-reasoning, empathy, respect, professionalism, interpersonal, and communication skills. As body donations dwindle, the era of teaching in a cadaverless environment is upon us. This marks the beginning of a paradigm shift in education and research for anatomists worldwide. Given the variable pathological-morphological presentation in COVID-19-related deaths, it is also likely that the autopsy component of anatomic pathology will be resuscitated to demystify the underlying mechanisms of the virus. Since COVID-19 may never disappear completely, we would like to recommend that international anatomical societies collectively reach out to statutory bodies to devise a standardized method of teaching anatomy, employing readily available cost-effective resources, in the face of pandemics. However, if anatomy as a discipline has survived a millennium, surely anatomists can fight the “scourges” that have plagued them as various perspectives have been bandied about to welcome in a new normal.

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Report and Recommendations of the Association of Pathology Chairs’ Autopsy Working Group

Cited by 15 publications

References 6 publications

The Importance of the Autopsy in Medicine: Perspectives of Pathology Colleagues

The Importance of the Autopsy in Medicine: Perspectives of Pathology Colleagues

Autopsy Service Death Certificate Review

Could COVID-19 Trigger a Rebirth in Anatomy Education? A Glimpse of Anatomists’ Responses to Pandemics of the Past and Present

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