About Clinical Audit
Definition of Clinical Audit
Individual Clinical Audit Projects
Aims and Philosophy
The Code of Practice
Definition of Clinical Audit
Clinical audit is a quality improvement process that seeks to improve patient care and outcomes through systematic review of care against explicit criteria and the implementation of change. Aspects of the structure, processes, and outcomes of care are selected and systematically evaluated against explicit criteria. Where indicated, changes are implemented at an individual, team, or service level and further monitoring is used to confirm improvement in healthcare delivery.
This definition is endorsed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in their publication Principles of Best Practice in Clinical Audit
NICE March 2002
(revised 2011 edition has to be purchased, while 2002 edition is downloadable free)
The Care Quality Commission's (taken over from the Healthcare Commission) rationale is that :
- Clinical audit is a professionally led exercise, which is an essential component in clinical governance and the delivery of high quality clinical care. Professional engagement in clinical audit and enabling the local environment to participate in audit activity are necessary to ensure that organisations are embracing the full potential of these methods in informing service delivery.
- National Standards, Local Action (2005/06 - 2007/08) states that providers should participate fully in comparative clinical audit and take account of the results to support local and national clinical governance. The White Paper ‘Trust, Assurance and Safety' (February 2007) outlines the importance of audits at local and national level and highlights its role in supporting continuous improvement in patient care. The publication ‘Principles of Best Practice in Clinical Audit (NICE, 2002) outlines the key points for consideration for each stage in the clinical audit cycle which involves measuring performance as well as making and sustaining improvements in patient care.
The Trust's Clinical Audit service is available to support all health care professionals within the Trust. It also provides support for National, Regional and Countywide audit projects.
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Individual Clinical Audit Projects
Clinical audit projects consider the clinical treatments and care of the patient rather than purely organisational issues. The Clinical Audit department provide advice and support with projects to meet your specific needs. The following shows the scope of what we have to offer.
We can assist with the preparatory work before the project starts
- choosing a clinical audit project
- getting the involvement of the multidisciplinary team
- helping to make it happen
- literature searches
We can help with the running of the audit
- facilitating your group
- designing the project
- selecting the methodology
- advising on sample sizes
- collecting the data
- analysing the data
- writing a report
- graphical presentations
We can help you implement change
- disseminating the results of audit projects
- planning and supporting the changes/improvements in practice
- assisting with the re-audit
It is important to note that we can offer as much or as little help as you like.
You may find the following document of assistance:
Planning a Clinical Audit - A Guide for Good Practice
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Aims and Philosophy
The purpose of the department is to contribute to the improvement of the provision of clinical service by the successful use of clinical audit. We accomplish this by:
- providing expertise in the planning, developing and application of the clinical audit process.
- providing educational opportunities for all professional staff on any aspect of clinical audit
The department aims to provide a high quality, professional, planned and managed service that is delivered in a non-threatening co-operative manner. So that:
- the department works together as a team to accomplish clinical audit strategy and objectives
- projects are completed to a high standard within any stated time-scale
- the staff behave in a courteous and professional manner at all times
- confidentiality is respected
- the department operates in a fair and ethical manner
- training and personal development for all staff within the team is available and encouraged, thereby enabling individuals to achieve their full potential.
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The Code of Practice
- All clinical audits will address topics of significance to clinical need within the Trust.
- All clinical audits will compare clinical practice against documented standards.
- No clinical audit will examine the work of another profession or specialty without their knowledge and approval being given before the audit begins.
- All those involved in a clinical audit will commit themselves to changing clinical practice, if necessary, as a result of the audit.
- All clinical audits will comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act (1998) with regard to the storage of personal data on computers. Furthermore, they will abide by the sections relating to sources and disclosures as specified in the registration of the computer.
- All clinical audits will be planned to allow sufficient time to be conducted in full. Staff in the clinical audit department are responsible for several clinical areas and will allocate their time accordingly.
- If an audit is written up and submitted for publication in a journal, presentation at a conference, etc., due credit will be given to all those involved.
- Whilst recognising the confidentiality of audit projects, the Clinical Audit Facilitator reserves the right to discuss areas of concern in carrying out the audit with audit colleagues within the team.
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