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- Title
Prioritizing Patient Safety and Minimizing Waste.
- Authors
Harris, Cynthia K; Pyden, Alexander; Onken, Allison M; Yarsky, Benjamin; Hayne, Cynthia; Glickman, Jonathan; Heher, Yael K
- Abstract
<bold>Objectives: </bold>Gross-only examination policies vary widely across pathology departments. Several studies-particularly a College of American Pathologists' Q-Probes study-have looked at the variations in gross-only policies, and even more studies have addressed the (in)appropriateness of certain specimen types for gross-only examination. Few, if any, studies have tackled the important task of how to revise and safely implement a new gross-only examination protocol, especially in collaboration with clinical colleagues.<bold>Methods: </bold>We reviewed the grossing protocols from three anatomic pathology centers to identify common gross-only specimen types. We compiled an inclusive list of any specimen types that appeared on one or more centers' lists. We performed a retrospective review of the gross and microscopic diagnoses for those specimen types to determine if any diagnoses of significance would have been missed had that specimen been processed as a gross-only.<bold>Results: </bold>We reviewed 940 cases among 13 specimen types. For 7 specimen types, the gross diagnoses provided equivalent information to the microscopic diagnoses. For 6 specimen types, microscopic diagnoses provided clinically meaningful information beyond what was captured in the gross diagnoses.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>To improve the value of care provided, pathology departments should conduct internal reviews and consider transitioning specimen types to gross-only when safe.
- Subjects
PATHOLOGY; RETROSPECTIVE studies; COLLECTION &; preservation of biological specimens; PATIENT safety
- Publication
American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2022, Vol 158, Issue 5, p598
- ISSN
0002-9173
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1093/ajcp/aqac093