Autopsy as a field is enjoying an unexpected renaissance as new and improved uses are found for postmortem examination in quality improvement, education, and research. This text provides an overview of topics crucial to competent and effective autopsy practice in the 21st century. Chapters combine relevant theoretical background with current and practical experience-based guidance for optimal value to families, patients, hospitals, and health systems. Distinguished contributors review the rich history of autopsy practice, and assess how the past both informs autopsy practice and impedes its progress. The title places autopsy in context of larger healthcare systems with chapters on quality improvement, autopsy as a professional activity, and new technology. Better, more reproducible reporting methods are explored to exploit the full potential of autopsy data for cross-institutional research. Chapters review the growing field of urgent rapid research autopsies
which are crucial to cancer research and the growth of personalized medicine. The book explains the science behind utilization of autopsy tissue, and discusses designing and delivering a successful rapid autopsy program. Contributors offer recommendations for special techniques and ancillary testing to serve today's patient populations. As resident education is re-examined by pathology and education authorities, new competency-based training models will almost certainly come to the fore. A chapter examines approaches to the future training of medical students, residents, and fellows in an environment of changing autopsy exposure. A final chapter summarizes the vision for the autopsy as a clinical outcome measure and valuable scientific resource. This book uniquely provides comprehensive guidance for readers to embrace transformations that are already taking place in modern autopsy practice, and looks forward to what the field might become in the future.