title: [Auditing as a tool for ongoing improvement in the Stroke Care Plan of the Region of Aragon].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Aragon Stroke Care Plan (PAIA) was created in 2008 within the framework of the Spanish National Health System. Monitoring hospital care of strokes by means of periodic audits was defined as one of its lines of work.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the quality of the hospital care process for stroke patients in Aragon by using quality indicators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three audits were carried out (in the years 2008, 2010 and 2012) following the same methodology, based on the retrospective review of a representative sample of admissions due to stroke in each of the general hospitals belonging to the Aragonese Health Service. Information was collected on 48 indicators selected according to their scientific evidence or clinical relevance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether 1011 cases were studied (331 in the first audit, and 340 in the second and the third). Thirty-one indicators showed a significant improvement (some of the most notable being the indicators of quality of the medical record, neurological assessment, initial preventive measures and, especially relevant, performing the swallowing test), two underwent a decline in their condition (related with rehabilitation treatment) and 15 did not register any significant variation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of the PAIA has given rise to a notable improvement in most of the quality indicators evaluated, which reflects an ongoing improvement in hospital stroke care. The progressive generalisation of specialised care and the creation of stroke units are some of the determining factors.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Royo Villanova, Zaragoza, Espana.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gimenez-Munoz
authors.affiliation: Hospital Comarcal Ernest Lluch, Calatayud, Espana.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palacin-Larroy
authors.affiliation: Hospital San Jorge, Huesca, Espana.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bestue
authors.affiliation: HUMS. Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, 50009 Zaragoza, Espana.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marta-Moreno
mesh_terms: D054869:Clinical Audit; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000592:standards*