Clinical audit, classification of complications and morbidity and mortality meetings (2022) – online course

Description

Please note that this course is no longer CME accredited.

Authors: R. Hoffmann and S. Blum

Reviewers: T. Bilhim, M. Burgmans, M. Hamady, A. Kelekis and C. Nice

This course corresponds to chapter 2.1.3 Patient safety in the European Curriculum and Syllabus for Interventional Radiology.

Abstract

Interventional radiology provides a wide variety of vascular and nonvascular, minimally invasive image-guided techniques aimed for therapy or palliation of a broad spectrum of different diseases and conditions. Interventional radiology is an emerging invasive speciality with complications comparable to other invasive specialities. As in other medical disciplines, patient safety depends both on the experience of the practitioner and on the quality and structure of the management. Different types of audits focussing either on procedures (horizontal audits) or on organisational structures (vertical audits) are central components in providing a steadily increasing degree of safety for treated patients. However, even in experienced and well-trained centres. using quality-assurance systems like team-time-out, safety checklists and different types of audits, complications of different degrees can occur. Nowadays, it is mandatory to use a homogenous grading system to describe complications of procedures in a standardised fashion to enable, for example, a comparison between different interventionalists and centres. This allows for the comparison of one’s own results with the “best in class” – showing differences between centres and, therefore, leading to an improvement in treatment quality. The next step after describing complications in a homogenous fashion is creating a working atmosphere which allows for interdisciplinary discussion of adverse events. The most effective way to discuss adverse events is the introduction of structured morbidity and mortality meetings/conferences to discuss reasons for complications and strategies to avoid similar events in the future. Therefore, a quality management system in interventional radiology, including audits, homogenous reporting of adverse events and structured morbidity and mortality conferences on a regular basis, is important for ensuring continuous improvements in the safety of interventional therapies for the benefit of our patients.

Learning objectives

After thoroughly working through this course, the reader should be able to

• Understand the different types of audits, prepare for an audit and draw conclusions from an audit
• Explain the different complication reporting systems
• Understand the reasons for using a standardised complication reporting system
• Use the CIRSE complication reporting system in daily routine and for scientific purposes.
• Organise and moderate a morbidity and mortality conference
• Summarise and draw conclusions from a morbidity and mortality conference

Further information

This course covers a basic level of IR knowledge and is designed for trainees, students or young consultants aiming to acquire essential knowledge or prepare for the EBIR exam. Thereby, it is tailored to the European Curriculum and Syllabus for Interventional Radiology and corresponds to chapter 2.1.3 Patient safety.

The format of the course is interactive and easy to use, including texts, graphics and a quiz to support your learning. The course duration is around one hour.

The acquired CME Certificate will be available in the myCIRSE area under CIRSE Academy.

The enrolment period of this course is linked to the validity of the All-Access Pass.

Release date: February 2022