Mortality rate publication improves quality of care

Significant improvements to patient quality of care since cardiac surgery mortality rates were first published in the UK has prompted the UK College of Surgeons to urge all surgical specialties to follow the lead as soon as possible. A British report which followed over 400,000 cardiac operations in the UK found that outcomes for adult patients have dramatically improved since mortality rates from cardiac surgery were first published in 2001. Eight years later, mortality rates have fallen up to 30%, redo operation rates are less common, and a greater number of elderly patients are now being seen for surgery. The report authors attribute the findings to the availability of more reliable data, which they say has prompted surgeons to take on more complicated cases. Surgeons are now looking to extend outcome reporting to other areas which impact on recovery time and quality of life, such as bleeding rates, post-operative stroke, kidney failure and the need to re-do operations....