Monitoring the quality of psychiatric care

Modern medical quality assurance depends on the identification and continual monitoring of important parameters or indicators of care. Indicators are defined as measurable clinical variables, often related to high volume, high risk, or problem-prone areas of medical care. Although the identification and monitoring of indicators is often a complex task, there are several areas in psychiatry where effective indicators can be developed. The process of indicator development is discussed and several suggestions are made for effective clinical parameters to monitor.