Pathology Teaching and Quality Improvement Tools

Our specimen worksheets act as teaching tools for our residents, fellows and pathologists’ assistant students and ultimately improve quality and efficiency within our anatomic pathology service. Our breast history worksheets include imaging results, previous surgeries and diagnostic details. Mastectomy and lumpectomy worksheets include specimen weight, orientation, surgical margin inking codes, tumor size, tumor location and sampling diagrams. After 9 years, we evaluated 30 residents, 10 PA students and (n=13) responded with positive reception. Evaluation reported that over 90% are directed and prepared for breast intraoperative consultation and for grossing, macroscopic inspection and sampling of diseased tissue. The worksheets are useful teaching tools with unanimous plans for future practice utilization. Breast specimen processing including the time from initial grossing to final diagnostic reporting, within a 2-7 day period increased from 15% to 41% with an average of 8 days reaching 100% completion. Our worksheets are included with this manuscript