The ESR Audit Tool (Esperanto): genesis, contents and pilot

Abstract

Clinical audit is a powerful tool to improve patient care, experience and outcome. It consists of measuring a clinical outcome or procedure against predefined standards, identifying differences between current practice and the standards, and changing practice where necessary to facilitate meeting the standards, followed by re-audit (the audit cycle). The recently implemented European Council Basic Safety & Standards (BSS) Directive (2013/59/Euratom) emphasises that carrying out clinical audit is compulsory in the EU "in accordance with national requirements". In 2017, the ESR published a Clinical Audit Tool booklet (Esperanto), consisting of an explanation of clinical audit, guidance on how to start a program in a radiology department, and 17 sample audit templates which could guide departments through the process of performing audits. A sample of key audits from these templates was performed by participating EuroSafe Imaging Star departments as a pilot project, with participants providing feedback on the audit process, and their experience of using the templates. Responses showed that the chosen topics were relevant, the audit process and templates were straightforward and easy to use, and that the audit process was time-efficient. Following this successful pilot, the Audit Tool has been made available for all potential users through the ESR website.

Key Points

• Clinical audit is the process of assessing one's practice against defined standards, altering practice if necessary to meet standards, and re-assessing following changes to confirm improvement

• Clinical audit should be part of practice in all radiology departments

• Under European Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom, clinical audit is compulsory in the EU "in accordance with national requirements"

• The ESR has developed a Clinical Audit Tool (Esperanto) to explain the process and guide departments through sample audit templates

• This Clinical Audit Tool was successfully piloted in 2017, and is now available to all users on the ESR website

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