20 / 66
18
Figure 5: Cases by specialty that could not be reviewed due to non-participation.
0% 1% 2% 3% 4%
Cardiothoracic Surgery
General Surgery
Neurosurgery
Orthopaedic Surgery
Vascular Surgery
Non participating cases (%)
Specialty
Note: total n=1,402.
Audit period 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2015.
Comments:
•
The specialties with the greatest degree of non-compliance during the audit period were Cardiothoracic Surgery,
General Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Neurosurgery and Vascular Surgery. These specialties have a larger
volume of operative procedures compared with other specialties. These cases mean that 15.1% of deaths could
not be audited due to surgeon non-compliance.
•
The return rate by specialty across other states and territories is comparable to the VASM return rates.
(7)
•
The audit process relies on active and ongoing compliance of surgeons. The introduction of mandatory
participation for CPD compliance since January 2010 is hoped to lead to the full participation of treating surgeons.
•
High non-compliance aggregate rates are reported to the participating hospitals via the Hospital Clinical
Governance reports.
•
It should be noted that orthopaedic surgical Fellows may choose to do their CPD through the Australian
Orthopaedic Association, and gynaecological Fellows may choose to do their CPD through the Royal Australian
and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) Fellows for which currently ANZASM
audits are not mandatory however consideration is given to mandate the audit activities from 2017 for these
surgical Fellows as well. The VASM would like to encourage those hospitals that have a high number of non-
participating surgeons, as per the hospital governance report outcomes sent early February 2016 to review the
approach to the VASM adopted by their surgical staff.
15.1%
Non-participation impact
2007-2014
15.1%
Non-participation impact
2014-2015