Autopsy and Forensic Pathology

• Residents show the ability to analyze practice experience and perform practice-based improvement activities using a systematic methodology, including:
  • Evaluating autopsy reports for diagnostic and typographical errors, and assessing for suboptimal slide quality.
  • Residents are given results of their concordance with staff diagnoses and are expected to use these studies to direct their studying and improve their diagnostic acumen.
  • As senior residents, actively participate in monthly Anatomic Pathology Quality Assurance Committee meetings, learning how to identify and report on a variety of QA monitors.
• Residents show ability to locate, appraise, and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related to patients’ health care problems, including:
  • Perform literature search and review to find relevant scientific references to aid in the workup of autopsy cases (computer-based searches).
  • Obtain and incorporate information about their patient population (via COPATH computer searches and medical records chart review) for clinicopathologic study of selected diseases.
• Residents are able to apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal of clinical studies and other information on diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness.
• Residents demonstrate competency in the use of information technology to manage information, access on-line medical information, and support their own education, including:
  • Accessing of patient clinical information and previous pathology accessions via Medsite and Copath.
  • Performance of computer searches of the medical literature.
  • Competent in the use of digital imaging technology.
  • Accessing web sites pertaining to specific pathologic diagnoses (grading systems for tumors, etc.). 
• Residents actively participate in the teaching of medical students and other health care professionals rotating through the anatomic pathology section, including:
  • Teaching medical students as lecturers (senior residents only), leaders in small groups and laboratory sections.
  • Teaching students and residents from other disciplines during autopsy prosection and in morbidity/mortality conferences and CPCs.

Evaluation:

• Rotation evaluation
• Review of resident portfolio yearly to assess improvement and discuss self-education