A multihospital medication allergy audit: a means to quality assurance.
Seventeen community hospitals within the 16 division of the Sisters of Mercy Health Corporation cooperatively participated in a medication allergy audit program. Initial and follow-up audits were conducted at each hospital to determine whether allergy information for penicillin- or aspirin-sensitive patients was appropriately communicated to the pharmacist. A total of 483 patient records were reviewed during each audit which corresponded to 12% of each hospital's average patient census. In the initial audit, the overall acceptance rate for the combined hospitals was 62.3%. Following the first audit, each hospital undertook corrective follow-up measures in an attempt to improve its results. In the second audit, the overall acceptance rate improved significantly to 78.9%. It is concluded that this auditing process followed by corrective follow-up measures was an effective mechanism for improving the communication of patient allergy information and is a means to quality assurance. Future audits will be necessary to determine whether the beneficial effects produced will be sustained or improved.
D001241:Aspirin; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D007484:Iowa; D008824:Michigan; D010406:Penicillins; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care