Quality assurance through in-house hospital inspections.
Hospitals, particularly those that are teaching institutions, must function at a high level of efficiency and effectiveness if they are to render excellent patient care, maintain accreditation, and provide a sound environment for learning and research. An urban 500-bed teaching hospital found that conducting its own internal monthly inspections produced several benefits in the areas of patient care, infection control, maintenance, safety, and administration. This hospital's in-house inspections also reduced anxiety in preparing for visits from various licensing agencies and review boards. Generally, this hospital has found that an in-house inspection program is a valid means of quality assurance in all areas of hospital work.
D004219:District of Columbia; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*