Audit system upgrades performance, downplays discipline

A common problem of medical audit programs is effectively correcting problems identified in an audit. A physician may ignore a letter from the audit committee, and because many of the problems deserve attention but are not life threatening, the medical staff hesitates to use disciplinary actions. This audit program offers a physician educational corrective actions without notation on his record. Disciplinary measures are invoked by the medical staff bylaws only if the physician refuses or fails the educational route.