Two surgical experts, Keith Lillemoe and Luise Pernar, discuss improving morbidity and mortality conferences in surgery to enhance education and quality improvement. They explore the historical evolution of these conferences, challenges in connecting them with quality improvement initiatives, creating a supportive culture, and the importance of cultural factors in analyzing surgical complications.
M&M Conference focuses on enhancing patient care through detailed reviews of adverse outcomes.
Evolution of M&M Conference from reputation-focused to emphasizing quality improvement and education.
Deep dives
Purpose and Importance of M & M Conference in Surgery
The M&M Conference is a longstanding tradition in surgery aimed at enhancing patient care through a detailed review of adverse outcomes. It provides a platform to discuss mistakes and errors to facilitate improvement and learning. Despite historical challenges, the conference now emphasizes quality improvement, education, and accountability.
Origins and Evolution of M & M Conference
Dr. Codman is credited for pioneering outcome reporting, though not recognized in his time. The M&M Conference has transformed over the years from a harsh, reputation-driven event to a forum focusing on quality improvement, education, and accountability. The conference emphasizes learning from adverse outcomes and enhancing patient care.
Integration with Quality Improvement and Educational Efforts
The M&M Conference serves as a rich educational platform, encouraging trainees to analyze cases, identify errors, and propose improvements. It complements quality improvement initiatives by highlighting recurring issues for further investigation and action. The conference fosters an environment of learning, discussion, and collaborative problem-solving.
Practical Structure and Etiquette of M & M Conference
The M&M Conference typically involves case presentations by residents, highlighting relevant history, findings, interventions, and outcomes. The discussion includes analyses of errors, preventability, and key learning points. The forum encourages active participation, constructive feedback, and actionable discussions to drive continuous quality improvement.
M&M - we all do it, but what is its purpose? Join Jason and Nina as they talk to two experts about why we present at all, and what we can do to better reach the educational and quality improvement goals of morbidity and mortality conference.
Hosts: Jason Bingham, Nina Clark
Panelists
Keith Lillemoe, MD
Chief of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital
Professor of Surgery at the Harvard Medical School
Luise Pernar, MD, MHPE
Bariatric Surgeon
Associate Professor of Surgery, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine