Medical Audit: A Nigerian Teaching Hospital's Preliminary Experience

Abstract

The definition, historical background, aims dimensions and the characteristics of medical audit as well as the indices to be measured in a medical audit exercise are highlighted. The preliminary experience of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) in the planning, implementation and monitoring of a viable medical audit programme is reviewed. The steps involved included among others:



(a) Planning for medical audit including creation of awareness among the stakeholders on the concept of, need for, and the expected benefits of a medical audit programme for the hospital and its patients and the constitution of a medical audit committee for the hospital.

(b) The modus operandi of the medical audit exercise.

(c) The health care deficiencies encountered at various clinical service points and support areas of the hospital; and

(d) The solutions which were proffered and implemented were highlighted.


Relevant recommendations are made in respect of strategies needed to ensure continuous quality improvement in health care delivery through adoption of medical audit in the public and private health institutions nationwide.




Key words: Medical Audit: Nigerian Teaching Hospital Preliminary Experience.


[Nig. Jnl Health & Biomedical Sciences Vol.1(1) 2002: 6-12]