Quality Systems Assessment
The Quality Systems Assessment Program (QSA) is a self-assessment survey designed to assess the effectiveness of current systems and processes in managing risks to patient safety and assuring quality patient care. It is a state-wide staff survey undertaken as part of the NSW Patient Safety and Clinical Quality Program and Clinical Excellence Commission, and is coordinated across the State via the Clinical Excellence Commission, and by HNEH Clinical Governance within this Area Health Service.
The survey is designed to be completed by groups of staff, for example, unit-based multidisciplinary clinical teams.
The three levels of survey are as follows:
Area Level
The Health Care Quality Committee is the core group responsible for the Area level survey.
Cluster/Network Level
Those involved in the delivery of services including (for example) the Network Clinical Leader, Network Manager, Stream Clinical Leader and Stream Coordinator. Other key staff such as medical, nursing, allied health, patient safety officers and quality managers may also have input into completing the cluster/network survey.
Facility/Clinical Unit Survey
The multidisciplinary team involved in the delivery of services should complete the survey. The facility/site manager or the department/unit manager is responsible for the activity statement.
The survey was first undertaken in 2007. The 2007 Survey concentrated on:
- Infection Control & Hand Hygiene
- Death Review, Morbidity and Mortality (M&M)/ Peer review meetings
- Correct Site /Patient /procedure
The 2007 survey results for HNE Health are available for information and reference. The 2007 cluster/service and unit reports were provided directly to the respective managers in 2008.
The next survey was undertaken in 2009, and focussed on quality and safety elements in four key areas, based on the high priority themes identified from the 2007 QSA baseline survey. They were:
- Detection of the deteriorating patient
- Communication
- Clinical handover
- Medication safety
The survey was undertaken from 27 July 2009 within all inpatient clinical units and facilities and at network/cluster and Area level. A nominated contact person was identified, in consultation with the relevant managers, for each team participating in the survey. The nominated contact person was provided with a web link and password to the survey. The Clinical Governance QSA contact person coordinated the completion of the survey by the multidisciplinary team who usually work together to provide patient care.
Feedback regarding the organisation’s performance and outcomes along with the organisation’s benchmarked performance against the broader NSW Health system was made available in October 2009. Individual reports will be provided to managers and teams. Following receipt of the reports, actions plans will be developed to facilitate improvement to patient care.
For Further Information
If you wish to speak with someone about the Quality Systems Assessment, please contact Ms Dianne Dolan, Acting Area Quality Manager, Clinical Governance on (02) 4921 4168.