Recommendations for quality assurance and improvement in surgical and autopsy pathology.

Abstract

Current regulations require that departments of pathology have a structured and active program of quality assurance (QA) and quality improvement (QI), with the goals of enhancing patient safety, minimizing error, ensuring timely delivery of reports, and monitoring physician competence. Types of potential error may evolve over time, and, as regulations become progressively more stringent, QA and QI programs need to be updated constantly. The Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology herein provides guidelines for QA and QI in surgical and autopsy pathology.