Quality Assurance Flashcards
What is Quality Assurance?
Quality Assurance is the general process of monitoring and evaluating whether specified standards of care have been met.
Define ‘Standards’.
Statements of acceptable performance against standard.
Define ‘Auditing’.
The process of checking on activity or performance against standards.
What are National Standards?
National Standards are made up of the terms of the Citizens Charter and Patients Charter introduced by the conservatives in the 1900’s and of the terms of the national service frameworks set up by new labour in 1997. both sets of documents outline standards of care when should be common throughout the health system.
What is Clinical Governance
Clinical Governance are statements of performance or outcomes that define an acceptable level of service.
What regulatory bodies carry out inspections of care facilities?
The Care Quality Commission (CQC)
The Health Care Commission (CHAI)
What is Professional Accountability?
Health professionals are legally accountable for the quality of services they provide. They are also subject to professional codes of practice through professional association.
What is the Health Care Commission?
The Health Care Commission was set up under the Health and Social Care Act 2003, it is a commission for health care audit and inspection. The Health Care Commission also improves provision of care for the NHS in England and Wales.
What are the key aims of the Health Care Commission?
Availability of access to, quality and effectiveness of health care.
Economy and efficiency of the provision of health care.
Availability and quality of information provided to the public about healthcare.
Safeguarding and promotion of the rights and welfare of children.
What are PPI forums?
PPI forums, also known as patient forums and or public forums have the power to inspect all premises used by NHS patients including private sector organisations. They hold meetings several times a year that they advertise in local newspapers.
Commission for patient and public involvement in health (CPPIH)
This was set up to work at a national, regional and local level in England to monitor the NHS and to involve the public in decision making about the provisions of health services.
Patient and public involvement forums (PPI)
This is an independent organisations that operate at a local level and they have the powers to inspect all premises used by NHS patients including those in the private sector.
Overview and scrutiny committee (OSC) / committees (OSCs)
This reviews and scrutinises all matters related to the planning, provision and operations of health services in the areas covered by the council. The health and social care act (2001) gave new powers to overview and scrutiny committees in local councils who have social service responsibilities.
Independent complaints advocacy service (ICAS)
This is a service where independent bodies help patients pursue a complaint about a particular NHS service also here they offer information and advice where they will then act as an advocate for patients. This service is established under the health and social care act (2001)
National institute for health and clinical excellence (NICE)
NICE issue directives on patient safety and safety of procedures as well as on drug use. Their Clinical Governance team ensure that PCT responds to these directives as well as guidance from the Department of Health.
