Assessing the quality of care in family physicians' practices

This feasibility study by the Practice Assessment Committee of the College of Family Physicians of Canada was conducted to define and produce instruments that could be used to assess quality of care rendered in family physicians' offices. The favorable response to these evaluations and the acceptance of the results indicates that this method can be useful to family physicians. The instruments identify family physicians' strengths and deficiencies so that with appropriate changes in the quality and efficiency of care, they are able to achieve higher levels of professional satisfaction. These methods may ultimately be used to establish acceptable standards for care given by family physicians in their offices.