Corporate quality assurance programs expanding

The Sisters of Charity Health Care System (SCHCS) of Cincinnati, before expanding its quality assurance (QA) activities, conducted a survey of 29 Catholic multi-institutional systems to learn more about their QA functions. Of those surveyed, nine systems already had a corporate QA program and seven more were considering developing one. The existing programs have four general areas of responsibility: assisting member facilities in complying with Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals standards, coordinating QA activities among facilities, facilitating development of a monitoring system, and providing consultation and education on quality issues. Seven of the nine systems with established QA programs had a single person in charge, generally someone with at least a master's degree and clinical, management, and actual QA experience. They usually were called "directors of quality assurance" and reported to vice-presidents. Their salary ranged from $49,000 to $65,000. Program budgets were an average of $88,809, and average staff size was 2.6 persons. The seven systems that had not yet established a QA program but were considering it had plans similar to existing programs. Based on these trends, SCHCS launched a corporate QA program in July 1986 by hiring a director of quality assurance.