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The Total Health Care Audit System: a systematic methodology for clinical practice evaluation and development in NHS
1Centre for the Advancement of Clinical Practice, European Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, UK.
Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
|February 1, 1996
Summary
This study introduces a novel system for critically assessing the quality of total patient care within National Health Service (NHS) organizations. It addresses longstanding issues in clinical audit methodology to improve healthcare quality.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Quality Improvement
- Clinical Audit Methodology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Historical lack of consensus on clinical audit methods noted since 1982.
- Studies reveal widespread misunderstanding and methodological deficiencies in clinical audit practices.
- Previous research highlights issues in audit approaches adopted by clinicians.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the identified deficiencies in clinical audit.
- To develop and present a formal system for critical inquiry into clinical practice.
- To assess the quality of total care within National Health Service (NHS) provider organizations.
Main Methods:
- Development of a new system for critical assessment of healthcare quality.
- Focus on evaluating the totality of care provided within NHS organizations.
- System designed to address methodological shortcomings in existing audit practices.
Main Results:
- A novel system for assessing the quality of total care has been developed.
- The system aims to provide a formal framework for critical inquiry.
- This represents the first presentation of the proposed assessment system.
Conclusions:
- Existing clinical audit methods have significant, persistent deficiencies.
- A formal system for critical inquiry into clinical practice is needed.
- The presented system offers a structured approach to evaluating the quality of care in NHS organizations.