Quality Assurance System for Use in a Large Emergency Department

摘要

This document summarizes the research efforts related to development of a Quality Assurance System (QAS) model for use in large emergency departments. The QAS project has focussed on the design of the criteria and evaluation components of quality assurance. Twelve preliminary research algorithms have been developed as the minimum criteria for acceptable emergency medical care. A general scheme for selecting illness/injury types for evaluation has been designed. The basic data collection tools for evaluation have been designed and preliminary data has been analyzed for the purpose of refining the research tools. The data collection tools have included: (1) observation of the actual events of the emergency medical treatment process; (2) case review of the patient files and the development of preliminary methods of process rating as 'Satisfactory' and 'Less than Satisfactory'. Interviews of patients for outcome was attempted in order to develop a measure of patient outcome. Forms were developed to obtain data on the content of the medical history and physical examination for five illness/injury types. The usefulness of the forms was tested on a preliminary basis. This QAS approach represents a basic framework for future work in the area of quality assurance in emergency medicine.