What is audit?
Audit is the systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the audit criteria is fulfilled.
What is the audit lifecycle?
Set standards -> Measure current practice -> Compare results to standards set -> Reflect, Plan, Change and Implement -> Re-Audit -> Back to beginning
What are the main purposes behind an audit?
- Demonstrate quality of service
- Identify areas of change
- Improve quality
- Assist with the implementation of policies and guidelines
- Monitor consistency of performance
- Measure actual performance against benchmark
- Compliance with ISO 15189 & QMS
What are the 4 types of audit?
1 - Clinical Audit
2- Vertical Audit
3 - Horizontal Audit
4 - Witness Audit
Why is audit necessary?
- Monitor & Improve Quality
- Ensure the best service possible for users
- Ensure Patient Safety
- Comply with standards, guidelines, regulations
What does a clinical audit assess?
Seeks to improve patient care and outcomes through systematic review of care against explicit criteria and implementation of change.
A) Evidence of current practice against national guidelines or standards, provide information about the stucture and processes of a healthcare service.
B) Prospective audit - Accurate real time data collection e.g. TATs
C) Retrospective Audit - Historical review e.g Referral patterns
What is a vertical audit?
Examines more than one part of a process e.g. follow a samples through the lab
What is a horizontal audit?
Examines one part of a process e.g. Are all staff training records up to date?
What is an examination audit?
Witness a procedure as it is performed. e.g. observing whether an SOP is being followed.
What should be recorded as part of an audit?
Name(s) of the auditor(s)
• Date of audit
• Reference number
• The activities, areas or items audited
• Any non conformities or deficiencies found
• Any recommendations and timescales for corrective action
• Responsibilities for corrective action
• Any recommendations for preventive action
• Date and signature of confirmation of completion of corrective and preventive action
