Reimagining the Cardiology Morbidity and Mortality Conference: A Path to System-Level Improvement

Traditional Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) conferences in cardiology often emphasize error identification and accountability, which can foster a punitive environment and hinder open discussion.

To promote psychological safety and meaningful learning, our team restructured the M&M conference into a collaborative forum focused on system-level improvement.

At the Medical College of Wisconsin, we conducted a needs assessment and redesigned the conference format to include structured case presentations, anonymous feedback mechanisms, and patient-centered perspectives. A quarterly M&M Board Review was established to identify recurring themes, track concerns, and ensure follow-up on actionable items. These changes aimed to enhance engagement and foster longitudinal quality improvement.

A redesigned M&M format fosters psychological safety and meaningful engagement. Structured follow-up mechanisms enhance continuity and drive system-level improvements. M&M conferences remain a valuable platform for identifying improvement opportunities and empowering fellow-in-training and early careers to lead quality improvement and patient safety initiatives and contribute to scholarly work.