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Tue Feb 13 17:09:36 GMT 2007

Sorry to dive into tedium; but I'm trying to think out a new performance
improvement initiative, and wondered if anyone out there could lend some
ideas or insights:

In the U.S., the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (a spinoff of the ACS, or so I'm led to believe) has taken
up "tracer methodology" as the centerpiece of its quality review
process:

http://www.jointcommission.org/AccreditationPrograms/Hospitals/Accredita
tionProcess/Tracer_Methodology.htm 

We're thinking that we might employ the same technique as an arm of our
performance improvement program, thus exercising our core compliance
systems and expanding the scope of our trauma PI all in one project.
Our "Tracer Team" would perform periodic spot checks of inpatients,
examining their records and interviewing their doctors and nurses, as if
we were trauma-horny Joint Commissioners.

BY ANY CHANCE, is someone out there already doing this?  I'd like to
avoid re-inventing any wheels if possible.   Any tools or tips
appreciated.  Otherwise, wait a couple of months and check back with me;
we'll be happy to share whatever we come up with...

Okay, now back to more exciting threads...

Pret Bjorn, RN
Bangor, ME USA

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Tracer PI (Yawn)