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National benchmarking as a support system for clinical governance
C E Bucknall1, I Ryland, A Cooper
1Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow. christine.bucknall@talk21.com
Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London
|March 16, 2000
Summary
This audit of acute asthma management in hospitals, aligned with British Thoracic Society (BTS) guidelines, shows significant improvements in care over seven years. Continued efforts can further enhance patient outcomes and establish national standards.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Healthcare Management
- Clinical Audit
Background:
- Hospital management of acute asthma has evolved alongside British Thoracic Society (BTS) guidelines.
- Periodic audits are crucial for improving healthcare practices, complementing guidelines alone.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of a national audit system for acute asthma care in hospitals.
- To track improvements in hospital asthma management practices over time.
- To provide data for setting national standards for acute asthma care.
Main Methods:
- A national audit data set, distilled from previous tools, was used.
- Hospitals contributed data from 1990 onwards.
- Key care items included peak flow, blood gases, corticosteroid use, self-management plans, and follow-up.
Main Results:
- Data from 4,741 admissions over seven years were analyzed.
- Median hospital performance in key care areas significantly improved.
- While improvements were noted, further potential for enhancement exists.
Conclusions:
- The audit system provides a valuable tool for assessing and improving acute asthma care.
- External benchmarking offers context for local audit results.
- The system has potential for clinical governance and establishing national care standards.