A Quality Assurance Strategy for Forensic Pathology

Abstract

This article will present an overview of, and a strategy for, designing a comprehensive quality assurance and improvement program for forensic pathology. Quality forensic pathology, as in anatomic pathology in general, depends on creating accurate, timely, complete, and usable reports. A successful quality assurance program requires a well-developed plan to accurately monitor and evaluate the myriad of processes (performance metrics) required to practice quality forensic pathology. A quality assurance program should address all three phases (preanalytic, analytic, and postanalytic) of the forensic autopsy “test cycle” as well as laboratory accreditation and monitoring requirements. A flourishing quality assurance program combined with the appropriate organizational culture is the cornerstone of continuous quality improvement. Many of the components (e.g. quality assurance of the toxicology laboratory) that fold into the practice of forensic pathology should be evaluated using the same quality assurance principles, but will not be addressed specifically in this article.