Introduction to Clinical Audit
Clinical Audit is a quality assurance process to improve services, outcomes and safety for patients. It is a systematic approach to assess current practice, compare this to a set standard (best practice, based on best available evidence) and identify any weaknesses. If such weaknesses are identified, an action plan is implemented to make certain changes and improve the patient care or service in these points.
Clinical audit can be applied to different areas of healthcare, including delivered patient care, the process of care – on an organizational level and cost effectiveness.
It is essentially different from research. Research is an experimental approach to find out what the best care is to be offered to patients. While clinical audit draws on the knowledge that research provides to assess if the service provided to patients is the best possible service and based on the best available evidence.
In research we ask: Are we singing the right song?
In audit we ask: Are we singing this song right?
Clinical audit follows a systematic approach in form of the audit cycle.
Since the 1980s systematic clinical audit has been used as a tool to continually improve the healthcare service in the UK and the USA and has spread as an effective way to improve services around the world. It is a process that will also benefit all patients and healthcare services in Gaza by continuous assessment and improvement of delivered care and patient outcomes. It is one of the key activities in order to ensure patient safety.
Please find on the links below further information on Clinical Audit:
A Practical Guide to Clinical Audit in the Gaza-Strip.
Some examples of clinical audits performed in the Gaza-Strip.
News and Events
Clinical Audit Support: contact details for practical help.
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