The How's and Why's of Chart Audits

Overview

What is a Chart Audit?

Purposes of the Chart Audits

Chart Audits in Quality Improvement

Planning a Chart Audit

Questions to Consider

How to Conduct an Audit

Step 1: Select a Topic Step 2: Identify Measures Step 3: Identify Patient Population Step 4: Determine Sample Size Step 5: Create Audit Tools Step 6: Collect Data Step 7: Summarize Results Step 8: Analyze and Apply Results

Check Your Understanding

Using Results for Quality Improvement

Summary

How to Conduct an Audit

There are 8 steps in conducting a formal chart audit. Although the process is not always necessarily linear, this list represents the general steps involved.

Select a Topic
Identify Measures
Identify Patient Population
Determine Sample Size
Create Audit Tools
Collect Data
Summarize Results
Analyze and Apply Results

Click here to see a mnemonic to assist in remembering the steps!

We will discuss each step in turn. Several examples are provided to illustrate each step. It is recommended that you follow one example through the steps in order, before looking at the other examples.