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Published on: September 27, 2024
Laparotomy operative note template constructed through a modified Delphi method
Lolonya Moore1, Ruth Churley-Strom, Bonita Singal
1St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48197, USA. OlearySh@trinity-health.org
Objective:
An operative note is indispensable to physician documentation and decision-making; however, there are no accepted standards for operative note content. Our aim was to use a modified Delphi consensus-building method to construct a uniform operative note template for laparotomy.
Study Design:
Using Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations requirements, literature review, and feedback from 15 medical malpractice defense attorneys, we compiled a draft operative note template of 31 elements. We surveyed 37 Association of Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics/Solvay scholars asking for their input on inclusion of each item as essential content of the operative note.
Results:
Two iterations of the survey were required to reach a predetermined 75% level of consensus. Nine elements were eliminated from the template: 6 original and 3 expert-suggested elements.
Conclusion:
We provide an operative note template that was compiled through a Delphi process.
