Multidisciplinary OBGYN morbidity and mortality conference

Obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) morbidity and mortality conferences allow for review of cases with poor or avoidable outcomes. Little data exist on standardized formats for presentation and evaluation. We designed a multidisciplinary morbidity and mortality conference. We formally evaluated resident performance using the milestones format, and evaluated resident understanding of case concepts with a pre- and post-conference survey.

Our monthly conference was redesigned to incorporate the entire, residency program, OBGYN department members, nurses, midlevel providers, risk management, quality nurse director, and any additional staff who were involved in the case. Residents functioned as reviewers and presenters, and were then evaluated with a standard milestones-based evaluation by faculty members. Residents were also evaluated with a 10-point Likert scale for understanding of key case concepts, pre- and post-conference.

Using a standardized format for presentation and evaluation improved resident presentation skills and ability to organize a vast amount of information from a chart into a valuable learning experience. Over a 6-month period, six cases were presented, and six actions were initiated for quality improvement. Resident understanding of concepts statistically improved after conference.

M&M plays a crucial role not only in patient care, but also in resident education.