Choosing an Audit Topic

Broadly speaking people get involved in clinical audit because they have to, or because they choose to. Sometimes the Trust as an organisation is obliged to participate in audits- either at the request of the NHSE or the local Health Authority- and it is increasingly common for local healthcare professionals to be contractually required to participate in clinical audit. However, the Trust is also very interested in increasing User and Carer involvement in audit. The majority of audits are undertaken by choice in response to one of the following:
1. An identified concern.
2. Other areas of local concern or potential concern ( usually high frequency, high risk or high cost areas).
3. Published evidence about clinically effective treatment
4. The availability of other clinical guidelines( e.g. from the Royal Colleges).
If you are keen to become involved in an audit but unsure about appropriate topics, the audit facilitators will be able to help you identify key subjects.