AUDITING DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLANS

1. AUDITING &DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLANS Gemma McCarthy

2. DEFINITION OF CLINICAL AUDIT �the systematic, critical analysis of the quality of care, including the procedures used for diagnosis and treatment, the use of resources and the resulting outcome and quality of life for the patient.� Quality & Fairness: A health system for you (2001) � Clinical audit is the comparison of actual practice against agreed, documented evidence based standards with the intention of improving patient care� (Martin Ferris, 2002)

3. AUDITING Auditing is a systematic process of examining past or current practices It involves looking at actual practices against agreed standards of best practice It is cycle of reviewing practices; Identification of problems; Development of possible solutions; Implement change and Review practices to ensure change sustained

4. Audit measures current practice against a defined standard Forms part of clinical governance which safeguards a high quality of clinical care for patients Assess ,evaluate and improve patient care in a systematic way

5. Comparison of auditing and research Demonstrates if best practice is in place Answers question: are we following best practice? Measures against standards Usually small scale, shorter period Demonstrates what is best practice Creates new knowledge Based on a hypothesis Usually large scale, prolonged period Clinical aucdit Research