Medicolegal Death Investigation and Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Outcomes: A Naturally Synergistic Collaboration

Stacy A. Drake, Sherhonda Harper, Dwayne A. Wolf

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The role of medicolegal death investigation (MLDI) systems in the assessment of violent deaths (e.g., gunshots, stab wounds, car crashes) is well known. However, the role of MLDI systems in informing healthcare agencies about potential patient safety and quality improvement activities is less understood and thus the main focus of this article. In this article we describes-one agency's initiatives to identify decedents whose circumstances or cause of death had potential relevance for patient safety and quality outcomes and to communicate those findings to acute care hospitals where the decedents were previously treated. We also describes the evaluation of this communication process and provide preliminary outcomes of these efforts.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)183-188
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of forensic nursing
Volume12
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2016

Keywords

  • Medicolegal death investigation
  • patient safety
  • quality and safety management

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Issues, ethics and legal aspects
  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Phychiatric Mental Health
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Nursing (miscellaneous)
  • Law

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