Muriel Driver Memorial Lecture 1984. Quality assurance--reflections on the wave.

This paper provides an overview of the evolution of quality assurance within the health care industry, with emphasis on the development of occupational therapy expertise. The current concept of quality assurance, focussed on ongoing monitoring and resolution of patient care problems, is discussed. The results of a national survey are presented, relating to the development of occupational therapy, quality assurance programs in the areas of: expertise in component activities, integration of facility and department programs, use of available resources, and extent of academic teaching. Predicted health care trends and their implications to occupational therapy are presented.