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Master of Public Health

Surgical Wound Misclassification: A Multicenter Evaluation.

AUTHORS

Levy SM , Lally KP , Blakely ML , Calkins CM , Dassinger MS , Duggan E , Huang EY , Kawaguchi AL , Lopez ME , Russell RT , St Peter SD , Streck CJ , Vogel AM , Tsao K , , . Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2014 11 20; ().

ABSTRACT

Surgical wound classification (SWC) is used by hospitals, quality collaboratives, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to stratify patients for their risk for surgical site infection. Although these data can be used to compare centers, the validity and reliability of SWC as currently practiced has not been well studied. Our objective was to assess the reliability of SWC in a multicenter fashion. We hypothesized that the concordance rates between SWC in the electronic medical record and SWC determined from the operative note review is low and varies by institution and operation.

Surgical wound classification (SWC) is used by hospitals, quality collaboratives, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to stratify patients for their risk for surgical site infection. Although these data can be used to compare centers, the validity and reliability of SWC as currently practiced has not been well studied. Our objective was to assess the reliability of SWC in a multicenter fashion. We hypothesized that the concordance rates between SWC in the electronic medical record and SWC determined from the operative note review is low and varies by institution and operation.

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