Clinical Audit

Question 1

What is clinical governance?

Answer 1

The framework through which the NHS is accountable for continual improvement of the quality of services and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care will flourish

Question 2

What is clinical audit?

Answer 2

A quality process that seeks to improve patient care and outcomes through systematic review of care against explicit criteria and the implementation of change

Question 3

What should clinical audits be based on?

Answer 3

Evidence based practice

Question 4

Why is clinical audit useful?

Answer 4

It improves patient care
Assists in the implementation of national initiatives
Improves working between interdisciplinary groups

Question 5

What are the eight steps of clinical audit?

Answer 5

Select topic for evaluation
Agree standards of best practice
Define methodology
Pilot and data collection
Analysis and reporting
Make recommendations
Implement change
Reaudit

Question 6

Give examples of aspects of structure, process and outcome which can be monitored,

Answer 6

Structure - resources and personnel available
Process - amount and type of activities of clinical care
Outcome - results of an interventiom