Background
Summary:
- WAASM commenced on 1 June 2001 as a pilot project, under
the management of the University of Western Australia.
- In 2005 management of the project was transferred to the
College.
- The project is funded by the Western Australian Department
of Health (WADH)
- In November 2006, the WADH issued an operational directive
stating that all deaths that occur in public hospitals and licensed
private health care facilities providing services for public patients
are required to be classified and reviewed under the Western Australian
Review of Mortality (WARM). WARM came into effect on 1 January 2007.
Deaths that are reviewed under the WAASM process are exempt from the
WARM process.
- Similar projects are now running in most states including
South Australia (SAAPM), Tasmania (TASM), Victoria (VASM) and
Queensland (QASM). All audits function under the umbrella of the
Australian and New Zealand Audits of Surgical Mortality (ANZASM).
ANZASM, as an audit process, fulfils the following
criteria:
1) it is independent
2) it is external
3) it is peer-review
4) it is systematic
5) it is routine
6) it is objective
7) it is confidential (all audits are covered by qualified privilege at
a Commonwealth level)
Audit Process
WAASM is a peer-review process.
Participation by consultant surgeons is voluntary.
To start:
WAASM is notified of all deaths that occur in Western Australia
through The Open Patient Administration System (TOPAS). In the case of
private and smaller regional hospitals that are not linked into the
TOPAS system, WAASM is notified of all deaths directly by the medical
records department.
Next:
WAASM sends a Surgical Case Form to the consultant surgeon
linked to the case.
The Surgical Case Form is:
1) completed by the consultant surgeon or a registrar (under
supervision)
2) returned to WAASM in the envelope provided (as soon as
possible)
3) de-identified and sent to a first-line assessor (a
consultant surgeon; same speciality, different hospital) for anonymous
peer-review.
If a second-line assessment (case note review) is not requested
by the first-line assessor, the original surgeon will be sent written
feedback to this effect (and the case will be closed).
If a second-line assessment (case note review) is requested by
the first-line assessor (that is, insufficient information has been
provided on the Surgical Case Form or the case needs further
investigation) then these steps are followed:-
1) A second-line assessor is chosen by WAASM staff based upon a
set of criteria created to minimise any selection bias.
2) Medical records are requested
3) The second-line assessor then reviews the Surgical Case Form;
the medical records; and the first-line assessor’s comment (comments
from first- line assessor are transcribed onto the second-line
assessors form), before writing a one-page report.
Note: The review is carried out and the report
written in a spirit of sympathetic enquiry, providing sufficient
details for a clear view of events.
4) The report and relevant feedback is sent to the original
surgeon. The case is then closed.
5) At each stage of the process the original surgeon has right
of reply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to participate in the WAASM?
At present, your participation in WAASM is
voluntary.
If I participate do I have to be a first or
second-line assessor?
You can choose to be a first-line assessor, and/or a
second-line assessor.
You can participate in the WAASM without being a first-line
assessor, and/or a second-line assessor.
Are instructions/guidelines provided for first and/or
second-line assessors?
Guidelines are sent with along with surgical proformas
forms.
An example of a second-line assessment report (1-2 page) is
also sent to you.
Is the WAASM process confidential?
All data and forms are de-identified. All data and
forms are securely stored. WAASM reports are covered by qualified
privilege.
How will WAASM know if a patient has died under my
care?
WAASM is notified of all deaths either through TOPAS or
medical records departments.
What if I need the medical records to fill out the
WAASM Surgical Case Form?
Contact the medical records department of your hospital
to ensure records can be located & delivered to you.
What do I do after completing the WAASM Surgical Case
Form?
Please return the Surgical Case Form to WAASM in the
envelope provided.
Contact us if you have
any questions or concerns.
Who do I contact if I have any queries?
Please contact WAASM Project Manager (Dr Marie Deverell).
The WAASM office can be contacted via phone on 08 6488 8691 or
via email.
Reports and Publications
Links
Contact
All general enquiries can be directed to the WAASM Project
Manager.
Project Manager
Dr Marie Deverell
Phone: 08 6488 8691
Fax: 08 6488 8560
Email: marie.deverell@surgeons.org
Clinical Director
Mr James Aitken
Phone: 08 6389 0244
Fax: 08 6488 8560
Email: waasm@surgeons.org
Project Officer
Adeline Neo
Phone: 08 6488 8561
Fax: 08 6488 8560
Email: adeline.neo@surgeons.org
Project Officer
Natalie Underwood
Phone: 08 6488 8562
Fax: 08 6488 8560
Email: natalie.underwood@surgeons.org
WA Audit of Surgical Mortality (WAASM), M308
Room 110, Clinical Training & Education Centre
University of Western Australia
35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 6009
Phone: 08 6488 8691
Email: waasm@surgeon.org
Fax: 08 6488 8560
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