Time course of postmortem procedures in a palliative care unit

Area of Science:

• Medical workflow analysis
• Palliative care research
• Healthcare management

Background:

• Postmortem procedures in Japanese hospitals, including pronouncement of death and body handling, are time-consuming.
• Physician work-hour regulations and workflow optimization are increasing concerns in Japan.
• Limited data exists on the total time from vital sign cessation to deceased patient hospital discharge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate time intervals in postmortem care processes within a palliative care unit.
• To assess the duration from death pronouncement to postmortem care initiation and completion.
• To provide quantitative data on the workflow burden of postmortem procedures.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records for patients who died in a palliative care unit (September 2024 - March 2025).
• Analysis of time intervals: pronouncement of death to postmortem care initiation, duration of postmortem care, and completion of the postmortem process.
• Inclusion of 81 patients with available time data out of 85 discharged after death.

Main Results:

• The median interval from pronouncement of death to postmortem care initiation was 20 minutes.
• The median duration of postmortem care was 40 minutes.
• The median total time from pronouncement of death to the completion of the postmortem process was 129 minutes.

Conclusions:

• The study provides essential baseline data on the time and workflow burden of postmortem procedures in palliative care.
• Findings highlight the need for efficient postmortem care processes, especially considering physician workload.
• Further research is recommended to explore operational burdens and family-centered outcomes related to postmortem care.