[A functional analysis of healthcare auditors' skills in Venezuela, 2008]

Using functional analysis for identifying the basic, working, specific and generic skills and values which a health service auditor must have.

Implementing the functional analysis technique with 10 experts, identifying specific, basic, generic skills and values by means of deductive logic.

A functional map was obtained which started by establishing a key purpose based on improving healthcare and service quality from which three key functions emerged. The main functions and skills' units were then broken down into the competitive elements defining what a health service auditor is able to do.

This functional map (following functional analysis methodology) shows in detail the simple and complex tasks which a healthcare auditor should apply in the workplace, adopting a forward management approach for improving healthcare and health service quality. This methodology, expressing logical-deductive awareness raising, provides expert consensual information validating each element regarding overall skills.