Autopsy Rates

Autopsy

an examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death used for educational purpose and for legal purposes

another term for autopsy are necropsy or postmortem examination

Autopsy Rate

the proportion of deaths that are followed by the performance of an autopsy

Gross Autopsy Rate

the ratio during a given period of time of all inpatient autopsies to all inpatient deaths

Usually reported as a percentage

Newborn Deaths

Are included in the gross autopsy rate depending on the facility’s policy

Formula: total autopsies on inpatient deaths for a period X 100/ Total inpatient deaths for the period

Net Autopsy Rate

the ratio during a given period of time of all inpatient autopsies to all inpatient deaths, minus unautopsied coroners’ or medical examiners’ cases

certain types of deaths must be reported to the coroner and this reduces the number of bodies available

Formula: total autopsies on inpatient deaths for a period X 100/ Total inpatient deaths- Unautopsied coroners’ pr medical examiners’ cases

In those cases, in which the coroners’ pr medical examiners’ case is actually autopsied by the hospital; pathologist, the bodies are included in the New Autopsy Rate

Hospital Inpatient Autopsy

the postmortem examination performed in a hospital facility on the body of an inpatient who died during hospitalization

NOT included in the hospital autopsy rate are FETAL AUTOPSIES

Adjusted Hospital Autopsy Rate

the proportion of hospital autopsies performed following the deaths of patients whose bodies are available for autopsy

Newborn Autopsy Rate

the proportion of hospital autopsies performed following the deaths of newborns

Formula: Newborn autopsies for a period X 100/ Total newborn deaths for the period

Fetal Autopsy Rate

the proportion of hospital autopsies performed following the deaths of intermediate and late fetal deaths

Formula: Autopsies performed on intermediate & late fetal deaths for a period X 100/ Total intermediate and late fetal deaths for the same period