title: An epidemiological approach to quality assurance in the hospital.
abstract: This article discusses epidemiological methodology: comparing rates, confounding, the use of confidence intervals, Bayes' theorem, and occurrence screening. An appreciation of the limits of epidemiological methods will provide the manager with realistic expectations of the quality assurance process.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington School of Medicine.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Everett
mesh_terms: D001499:Bayes Theorem; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012308:Risk Management