Premium
The Pathologist and the Geriatric Autopsy †
Author(s) -
Hofman Walter I.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1975.tb00374.x
Subject(s) - medicine , autopsy , reimbursement , gerontology , medical record , geriatric care , geriatrics , family medicine , general surgery , pediatrics , pathology , surgery , health care , psychiatry , nursing , economics , economic growth
In the past forty years the autopsy rate in many large institutions has fallen drastically to a level of only 20–25 per cent. The large number of diagnostic errors revealed in autopsy records is in itself a cogent reason for a return to higher standards. The inhibitory effect of high cost would be modified by the use of central regional pathology services and by reimbursement from third‐party insurance carriers. The end‐result would be a higher quality of medical care for all patients, not excepting those in the geriatric age group.