Final answer:
The gross autopsy rate is calculated by dividing the total number of autopsies performed by the number of hospital discharges and then multiplying by 100 to express it as a percentage. An example calculation, given 50 autopsies and 1000 discharges, would result in a 5% gross autopsy rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the gross autopsy rate, you need two pieces of information: the total number of autopsies performed and the number of discharges from the hospital. The formula for calculating the gross autopsy rate is as follows:
Gross Autopsy Rate Formula
Gross Autopsy Rate = (Total Autopsies Performed / Total Hospital Discharges) × 100%
Once you've gathered your data, substitute the numbers into the formula to get your percentage. For example, if there were 50 autopsies performed in June 20XX and 1000 total patient discharges, the calculation would be:
(50 / 1000) × 100% = 5%
This means that the gross autopsy rate for that month would be 5%. It's essential to present the results as a percentage to give a clear and standardized measure of how many autopsies were performed relative to patient discharges.