Medical audit: an effective arm of quality assurance

The author discusses the use of the psychiatric audit system developed by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals in conducting retrospective reviews of various aspects of patient care. Treatment or procedures reflected in the medical record are measured against standards or criteria set by an audit committee. Analysis of exceptions to or variations from the criteria points up deficiencies and areas for corrective action. The author describes an audit of patients placed on the self-injury precaution program at his hospital, the deficiences that were identified, and the results of a repeat audit made several months later to see if the deficiencies had been corrected.