An interview with: David Sine on trends in hospital safety/quality management

David M. Sine, president of David M. Sine & Associates, Inc., Austin, TX, is a safety and quality management consultant specializing in pre-accreditation auditing of health care facilities. Prior to becoming an independent consultant in 1980, he was a senior staff engineer for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and has worked as a consultant to the American Hospital Association. He has lectured throughout the country and published numerous trade articles on safety and quality management issues. Here, he discusses recent trends and developments in hospital safety and quality management, and offers advice on measures to take in preparation for a Joint Commission accreditation survey.