title: Dermatosurgery: total quality management in a dermatology department.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatosurgery (DS) is a growing sector in dermatology. Performance measurement is organized worldwide to improve the quality of health care. Clinical audit relies on self-assessment, comparison with guidelines, frames of references and implementation of improvement actions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficiency of our DS department.
  
  
  METHODS
  A clinical audit focusing on the organization of the DS unit, patient routing, continuing medical education and training for students was conducted by two external auditors. After an initial evaluation, improvements were implemented and reassessed 1 year later by the same auditors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The audit resulted in the implementation of preoperative consultation, improved pre- and postoperative information leaflets for patients, standardizing of surgery reports, earmarking of funds for materials, and patient satisfaction survey. The training of residents was organized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This audit was a driving force for communication among the medical and paramedical teams and helped improve patient care and training of residents in DS. It also highlighted areas needing further improvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Henri Mondor Hospital, Créteil, France. saskia.oro@hmn.aphp.fr
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ingen-Housz-Oro
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Amici
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roy-Geffroy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ostojic
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domergue Than Trong
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Buffard
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lafaye
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldszal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mirkamali
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Plaquet
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thuillot
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Meningaud
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wolkenstein
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chosidow
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D003880:Dermatology / Q000592:standards*; D005602:France; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000592:standards*; D010820:Physicians; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000592:standards*