News: Missouri death certificates show significant cause of death inconsistencies
Nearly half of the death certificates reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2009 to 2012 listed the cause of death inaccurately, according to a recent article in Health Leaders Media. The Morbidity and Mortality Report, published in January, reviewed 205 medical charts at random from eight separate hospitals in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas. The charts fell into one of three categories:
- Heath disease
- Cancer
- Renal disease
Though CDI specialists do not have direct contact with the death certificates themselves, only 181 (88%) of the 205 selected charts were able to be reviewed because some charts were unavailable or incomplete for 24 patients, Health Leaders Media reported.
Although the report does not speculate as to the reasons behind death certificate inaccuracies, CDI professionals certainly should ensure the records leaving their facilities are as clear as possible so that those handling the next stages of information transfer are equipped with as much detail as possible regarding patient conditions.