[Quality assurance in antenatal, perinatal and neonatal care. A medical audit]

Formalized quality assessment of prophylaxis, diagnosis, treatment, and care has recently been introduced in the Danish health service. A review is presented of quality assessment undertaken by the medical audit method and a model is described for quality assurance of prophylaxis, diagnosis, treatment and care during the ante-, peri and neonatal periods. The information is based partly on results from a medical audit project and also experience from work in a perinatal committee in the County of Copenhagen. The method of medical audit is reviewed, including here the specialists participating, the extent of the work and the material forming the basis for assessment of the quality. In addition, examples are quoted of criteria for satisfactory prophylaxis, diagnosis, treatment and care in the perinatal period and for how assessment by the specialists is carried out. A new classification of causes of death and review of the results of assessments of quality is presented. Finally, quality assessment as seen from the patients' point of view is discussed.