Development of a surgical case review system

Quality assurance professionals at Wayne County (Pennsylvania) Memorial Hospital have successfully implemented a surgical case review system for evaluating all inpatient surgical and same-day surgical procedures (including those where no tissue is removed) as well as post-hospitalization infections or complications that may signal unusual events or potential risk factors. The occurrence of such an event triggers a review of the case. Physician members of a surgical case review committee review and evaluate the surgical procedure in such cases and take immediate action to resolve quality of care issues.