Enhancing patient safety and risk management through clinical pathways in oncology

The increasing emphasis on risk management and quality assessment in hospital management necessitates strict adherence to government and international standards. Those standards are particularly important, and certification requirements further underscore this need. The objective of this paper is to outline the application of the INTegrated Audit Model in a Comprehensive Cancer Center. This model represents a revised version of Tracer Methodology, for audit surveys, aimed at aligning audit activities with UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 and Joint Commission Standards for quality, patient safety and clinical risk management.Using the INTegrated Audit Model, a total of 7 tracers were conducted, and 31 units underwent auditing during the period spanning from 2022 to 2023. Each audit inquiry was documented, categorised and cross-referenced with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Joint Commission International (JCI) standards. Areas exhibiting the highest incidence of non-conformities and observations were systematically linked to relevant standards. Subsequently, a comprehensive analysis was conducted on the ensuing findings.The INTegrated Audit Model allowed for systematic data collection across clinical pathways, revealing prevalent issues and areas for improvement in patient care. By aligning identified topics with ISO and JCI standards, compliance with international guidelines was assessed, offering units insight into their current status and areas for enhancement.Overall, both auditees and auditors expressed satisfaction with the methodology and continuous training, highlighting its effectiveness in fostering collaboration, improving time management and promoting adherence to accreditation standards.The study highlights the effectiveness of the methodology in monitoring unit activities and adherence to clinical pathways and international standards applied to an oncological setting. Audits conducted with this approach provided a thorough assessment of critical areas impacting patient care and clinical governance, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of service delivery.