Establishing a mortality review process

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety
• Medical Education

Background:

• Patient deaths are a daily occurrence in hospitals, presenting opportunities for learning.
• Existing processes for reviewing deaths may not consistently yield actionable insights.
• Improving the hospitalization experience for patients and families is a key healthcare goal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of a standardized mortality review process at an academic health center.
• To establish a framework for quality improvement initiatives informed by patient deaths.
• To enhance the systematic analysis of hospital deaths to drive improvements in care.

Main Methods:

• Development and implementation of a standardized mortality review protocol.
• Focus on a quality-driven system to facilitate the review process.
• Experience sharing from an academic health center's perspective.

Main Results:

• A structured approach to mortality review was established.
• The process facilitates the identification of improvement opportunities.
• The academic health center gained experience in implementing this system.

Conclusions:

• Standardized mortality reviews are crucial for healthcare system enhancement.
• Implementing such a process can lead to significant improvements in patient care and safety.
• This approach supports a culture of continuous quality improvement.