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Audit steps


Step 1: Select what to audit Step 2: Define the criteria and standard


Step 3: Define data to be collected Step 4: Submit your audit for approval


Step 5: Establish the baseline (collect initial data)


Step 6: Compare performance with criteria and standards


Step 7: Implement change


Step 8: Carry out a second round of data collection


Step 9: Analyse the data


Step 10: Produce and submit your audit report


From NES: go to www.tinyurl.com/obe6rsm


where improvements can be made for the benefit of the practice.


Setting standards


The next step is to define the criteria and standard. This is relatively easy to do if you chose a clinical audit. For example, we are all familiar with the idea that 70 per cent of your X-rays should ideally be grade 1, 20 per cent grade 2 and only 10 per cent


grade 3. With regards to evidence of current medical history in the records you might want to aim high and say that your standard is to be 100 per cent. Set the standard for your audit project at an early stage, keeping in mind that the quality of patient care should be high for all patients but also that these high standards must be achievable. The website Scottish Dental (www. scottishdental.org) provides links to a large number of standards documents, such as SDCEP and SIGN guidance.


Data collection Next you must decide what data


you are going to collect. The simplest way is to produce a spreadsheet and fill in the data as you go. If your data is being collected from dental records then


staff at the practice may be willing to help here and any assistance should always be gratefully received. The data should be verifiable, so while you might wish to exclude personal data such as the patient’s name, it is sensible to develop a code so that if the data needs to be checked at a later date this can be done easily. You can then


submit your audit for approval (and funding).


Making the change Next you must establish a baseline in your audit and this is achieved by collecting the initial round of data. You can then compare the baseline data to the standard you set and want to achieve. Now you are in a position to make the change. This is the step that needs the most thought. Making the right change in the right way will make all the difference. If the change involves other staff in the practice then get them on board with your idea. Encourage them to see how practice life or patient care or preferably both will be enhanced by making the change. Then do it. Obviously it is important to check that the


change you have made has been effective and so you need to collect another round of data to prove that things have improved. It is usual to let the change you have made be in place for three months or so before you carry out this second round of data collection but this time can be varied depending on your project.


To finish… The next process is to analyse the second round of data, pat yourself on the back for the improvements you have made to patient care, bask in the adulation of your practice colleagues for making their life that little bit easier, and don’t forget you then have the unglamorous job of writing up your report. And after all that hard work you deserve your


long lie. Enjoy! Claire Renton is a dental adviser at MDDUS


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