Santé (Montrouge, France)
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Santé (Montrouge, France) · Jul 2006
[Service quality assurance by death analysis during the 2004 cholera outbreak in Douala].
Morbidity and mortality conferences (MMC) are used today in most medical departments as a tool for quality assurance as well as an educational tool. We introduced MMC with regard to cholera lethality during the 2004 cholera outbreak in Douala. The Delegation of Public Health (DPH) in Douala, coordinating body for the combat against the epidemic, decided to open cholera treatment units (CTU) in fourteen hospitals, equally distributed over the town. ⋯ These meetings analysing the reasons behind a case of cholera dying in a CTU gave the opportunity to discuss performance, to identify problems, and to search together for solutions. They were thought of as a tool for improving the quality of the service. Looking at the low over-all lethality rate during this major epidemic they seemed to have, at least partially succeeded.