AANA Journal Course, AANA Journal, June 1986

1. Describe the elements of the 1985 JCAH QA standard. 2. Define "critical indicator" and give three examples of It from anesthesia practice. 3. List the three elements of a written departmental QA plan and state the significance of each. 4. Discuss two monitoring methodologies which may be appropriate to your anesthesia department. 5. Explain the three phases of peer review Implementation. Hospitals are composed of a multitude of specialty areas, each with its own particular skills and concerns. For example, the priorities of a nurse anesthetist may differ significantly from those of a clinician working in a psychiatric unit. Although the focus of each specialty is unique, the essential ingredients of a unit-based quality assurance (QA) program remain the same whatever the clinical setting. Such a decentralized approach, however, can create enormous anxiety if one feels unsure of exactly how to "do" quality assurance. Certainly, a good grasp of the elements of the QA process, discussed in Part I of this series, is an excellent starting point. Because departmental plans should harmonize with the institution's overall quality assurance efforts, a thorough knowledge of the current Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH) quality assurance guidelines is equally important.