The
Scottish Audit of Surgical Mortality (SASM) is unique in the United
Kingdom. It encompasses nearly all the surgical specialties and all
except two eligible Consultant Surgeons and Anaesthetists in Scotland
have agreed to participate. SASM identifies all deaths that occur in
hospital under the care of a surgeon, whether an operation has taken
place or not. SASM forms are completed by the relevant Surgeon and where
appropriate Anaesthetist. The forms then undergo a peer review process
carried out by virtually every practising clinician within the audited
specialties on behalf of their colleagues. Over 1100 consultants participate
and approximately 4,500 deaths are reviewed per year.
The
single greatest achievement of SASM is that routine objective peer review
of surgical deaths takes place in Scotland. This unique feat is all
the more remarkable as current participation in SASM is entirely voluntary.
The success of SASM depends totally on the profession's sense of ownership,
which is reflected by the very high compliance rates. This in turn is
a testament to the commitment of the surgical and anaesthetic clinicians
involved to continuous audit in clinical practice. |