Risk Control and Quality Management in Neurosurgery »

Steiger, Hans-Jakob; Uhl, Eberhard

Quality in an invasive discipline such as neurosurgery comprises evidence based medicine, cost effectiveness and also risk control. Risk control and quality management have become a science on their own, combining the expertise of many specialists such as psychologists, mathematicians and also economists. Intensive communication with basic safety scientists as well as safety experts from the industry and traffic promises ideas and concepts than can be adopted for neurosurgery.
An international conference was held in Munich in October 2000 bringing together neurosurgeons and safety experts from outside medicine in order to discuss basic aspects of risk control and quality management and to develop structures applicable to neurosurgery. Basic aspects such as principles of risk and safety management, the human factor as well as standards of neurosurgical patient care, proficiency of staff and residents, and industrial quality standards were discussed. The presentations and discussions resulted in a wealth of new ideas and concepts. This book contains this material and thus provides a unique and comprehensive source of information on the current possibilities of quality management in neurosurgery.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Celso Agner, MD, MSc(University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine)
Description:This book, a broad overview of the main ethical principles of the practice of neurosurgery, is a compilation of papers presented during the Conference on Risk Control and Quality Management in Neurosurgery held in Munich in October 2000.
Purpose:The purpose is to address the main ethical aspects related to the current practice of neurosurgery. According to the authors, the aspects that govern efficiency are related not only to the "do it better" school of thought, but also to a perfect match between technology, evidence-based medicine, and cost-effectiveness. The authors clearly meet their objectives and consistently address their topic throughout the compilation.
Audience:The book mainly addresses neurosurgeons. The topic is current and interests most neurosurgeons, particularly because of the current need and pressure from insurance companies, hospital, and the field, to "do it better."
Features:The book is divided into eight parts, each one dealing with specific ethical and psychological aspects of the practice of neurosurgery. The emphasis is primarily on ways to practice neurosurgery better -- not only the question of how technology helps the neurosurgeon, but also how the team approach and the personality of a neurosurgeon affect its practice. Reference to evidence-based medicine is always made.
Assessment:This is a must-have book. The practice of neurosurgery needs to be directed to a different level and the authors concisely address their audience. Neurosurgery libraries would greatly benefit from having this book.