The Quality of Surgical Care Project: Quality Assurance, Clinical Audit and Outcomes Evaluation in Western Australia [ 2001 - 2003 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof James Semmens (Principal investigator) ,  Dr James Aitken ,  Mr Kingsley Faulkner ,  Prof Cashel Holman ,  Prof David Fletcher
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Brief description The Quality of Surgical Care Project (QSCP) is a unique quality assurance program in Australia which promotes best practice in surgical and procedural care. The objectives of the QSCP are to evaluate the outcomes of surgical procedures in Western Australia (WA) and to compare them with international standards. The QSCP was established in 1996, as a collaborative venture among the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), the Department of Public Health, (UWA) and the Health Department of WA. The QSCP is only possible because of the unique population-based record linkage available in this state and is consistent with priorities identified in the National Health Information Development Plan in the areas of record linkage and health outcomes, as well as with the monitoring of interventions recommended by the Taskforce on Quality in Australian Health Care. The surgical procedures reviewed are selected to include a broad range of surgical specialties on the basis of national priority, in consultation with the RACS and with input from the Australian Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures-Surgical (ASERNIP-S). This application proposes to continue the core program in promoting best practice in procedural care by reviewing selected procedures including the outcomes of laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures, and endoluminal stenting surgery due to their rapid proliferation during the 1990's. This second stage of the QSCP proposes the introduction of two new quality assurance themes. Firstly, to promote the clinical safety and post-implementation surveillance of new surgical interventions and other medical technology by establishing the WA Registry and Surgical Audit of New Surgical Interventions. Secondly, to comprehensively and independently audit all surgical mortality at a population level. A dissemination strategy will be established to 'complete the loop' in the evaluation and audit processes.

Funding Amount $AUD 346,018.36

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant