Quality assurance in the emergency department.

Quality assurance (QA) is an increasingly important element in the administrative management of the ED. The need to critically self-evaluate physician performance, allocate scarce resources, and conduct careful risk management requires a methodology well met by a comprehensive QA plan. Aggressive collection of potential problems requires multiple methodologies to review complaints, accomplish generic screening, perform audits, address administrative concerns, and satisfy reviews mandated by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals. The means by which such wide-ranging issues can be brought into a single comprehensive plan require an efficient and flexible model of ED administration that includes problem identification, resolution and monitoring, risk management, and sensible administration. The QA elements of monitoring, assessment, improvement, documentation, generic screening, and standards of care are examined.