Internal Audit as a Quality Assurance Tool to Ensure Staff and Patient Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic

Suneeta Dubey; Shalinder Sabherwal; Javed Hussain Farooqui; Prerna Garg; Umang Mathur; Ashok Kumar Singh

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12

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Internal Audit as a Quality Assurance Tool to Ensure Staff and Patient Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic

Suneeta Dubey, Shalinder Sabherwal, Javed Hussain Farooqui, Prerna Garg, Umang Mathur, Ashok Kumar Singh

Published in International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science (Volume 6, Issue 3)

Received: 18 May 2021 Accepted: 28 June 2021 Published: 28 July 2021

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Abstract

We present the process of development and implementation of an internal audit for prevention of spread of COVID-19 at a tertiary eye hospital, which can be used for further improvement of the system and be utilized by similar organizations to enhance patient and staff safety and quality of service. It is a Single center prospective audit. Based on the guidelines put forth by various international (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization) and Indian (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, All India Ophthalmological Society) authorities, preventive protocols were formulated. To ensure compliance of these protocols, audit sheets in the form of checklists and questionnaires were prepared. Facility and process audits were undertaken for registration, outpatient department and pre-surgical counseling. Pilot audits were carried out to develop more detailed audits, and implemented for one week. There was 100% compliance from the staff in personal protective equipment usage and hand hygiene. However, 21 incidents of physical distancing not being maintained by them were noted. Though there was 100% compliance in use of facemask by the staff and patients, 34.5% of patients were noticed wearing the mask improperly. It was also noted that, at the entry, thermal screening was not performed at 6/53 (11.3%) observations with no thermal screener at 3/23 instances. This study describes the process of formulating and conducting audits as a monitoring and evaluation tool, which is most relevant in ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to ensure safety of patients and health care workers.

Published in	International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science (Volume 6, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12
Page(s)	158-163
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

COVID-19, Audit, Eye Hospital, Monitoring, Evaluation

References

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[11]	Flanagan P. Current standards for infection control: audit assures compliance. Br J Nurs. 2009; 18 (16): 970-975.
[12]	Bryce EA, Scharf S, Walker M, Walsh A. The infection control audit: the standardized audit as a tool for change. Am J Infect Control. 2007; 35 (4): 271-283.
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[16]	Van Gelderen SC, Zegers M, Robben PB, Boeijen W, Westert GP, Wollersheim HC. Important factors for effective patient safety governance auditing: a questionnaire survey. BMC Health Serv Res. 2018; 18 (1): 798.
[17]	Hanskamp-Sebregts M, Zegers M, Boeijen W, Westert GP, van GurpPJ, Wollersheim H. Effects of auditing patient safety in hospital care: design of a mixed-method evaluation. BMC Health Serv Res 2013; 13 (1): 226.
[18]	Berg, J. Creating a professional poster presentation: focus on nurse practitioners. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners 2005, 17, 245– 248.
[19]	Barnes M, Sax PE. Challenges of "Return to Work" in an Ongoing Pandemic [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jun 18]. N Engl J Med. 2020.
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APA Style

Suneeta Dubey, Shalinder Sabherwal, Javed Hussain Farooqui, Prerna Garg, Umang Mathur, et al. (2021). Internal Audit as a Quality Assurance Tool to Ensure Staff and Patient Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 6(3), 158-163. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12

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ACS Style

Suneeta Dubey; Shalinder Sabherwal; Javed Hussain Farooqui; Prerna Garg; Umang Mathur, et al. Internal Audit as a Quality Assurance Tool to Ensure Staff and Patient Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic. Int. J. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2021, 6(3), 158-163. doi: 10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12

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AMA Style

Suneeta Dubey, Shalinder Sabherwal, Javed Hussain Farooqui, Prerna Garg, Umang Mathur, et al. Internal Audit as a Quality Assurance Tool to Ensure Staff and Patient Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2021;6(3):158-163. doi: 10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12,
  author = {Suneeta Dubey and Shalinder Sabherwal and Javed Hussain Farooqui and Prerna Garg and Umang Mathur and Ashok Kumar Singh},
  title = {Internal Audit as a Quality Assurance Tool to Ensure Staff and Patient Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic},
  journal = {International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science},
  volume = {6},
  number = {3},
  pages = {158-163},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijovs.20210603.12},
  abstract = {We present the process of development and implementation of an internal audit for prevention of spread of COVID-19 at a tertiary eye hospital, which can be used for further improvement of the system and be utilized by similar organizations to enhance patient and staff safety and quality of service. It is a Single center prospective audit. Based on the guidelines put forth by various international (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization) and Indian (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, All India Ophthalmological Society) authorities, preventive protocols were formulated. To ensure compliance of these protocols, audit sheets in the form of checklists and questionnaires were prepared. Facility and process audits were undertaken for registration, outpatient department and pre-surgical counseling. Pilot audits were carried out to develop more detailed audits, and implemented for one week. There was 100% compliance from the staff in personal protective equipment usage and hand hygiene. However, 21 incidents of physical distancing not being maintained by them were noted. Though there was 100% compliance in use of facemask by the staff and patients, 34.5% of patients were noticed wearing the mask improperly. It was also noted that, at the entry, thermal screening was not performed at 6/53 (11.3%) observations with no thermal screener at 3/23 instances. This study describes the process of formulating and conducting audits as a monitoring and evaluation tool, which is most relevant in ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to ensure safety of patients and health care workers.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Internal Audit as a Quality Assurance Tool to Ensure Staff and Patient Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic
AU  - Suneeta Dubey
AU  - Shalinder Sabherwal
AU  - Javed Hussain Farooqui
AU  - Prerna Garg
AU  - Umang Mathur
AU  - Ashok Kumar Singh
Y1  - 2021/07/28
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12
T2  - International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
JF  - International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
JO  - International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
SP  - 158
EP  - 163
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2637-3858
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12
AB  - We present the process of development and implementation of an internal audit for prevention of spread of COVID-19 at a tertiary eye hospital, which can be used for further improvement of the system and be utilized by similar organizations to enhance patient and staff safety and quality of service. It is a Single center prospective audit. Based on the guidelines put forth by various international (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization) and Indian (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, All India Ophthalmological Society) authorities, preventive protocols were formulated. To ensure compliance of these protocols, audit sheets in the form of checklists and questionnaires were prepared. Facility and process audits were undertaken for registration, outpatient department and pre-surgical counseling. Pilot audits were carried out to develop more detailed audits, and implemented for one week. There was 100% compliance from the staff in personal protective equipment usage and hand hygiene. However, 21 incidents of physical distancing not being maintained by them were noted. Though there was 100% compliance in use of facemask by the staff and patients, 34.5% of patients were noticed wearing the mask improperly. It was also noted that, at the entry, thermal screening was not performed at 6/53 (11.3%) observations with no thermal screener at 3/23 instances. This study describes the process of formulating and conducting audits as a monitoring and evaluation tool, which is most relevant in ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to ensure safety of patients and health care workers.
VL  - 6
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Suneeta Dubey

Quality Assurance, Glaucoma Services, Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India
Shalinder Sabherwal

Community Ophthalmology and Public Health Research, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India
Javed Hussain Farooqui

Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India
Prerna Garg

Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India
Umang Mathur

Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India
Ashok Kumar Singh

Quality Assurance, Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi, India

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Suneeta Dubey, Shalinder Sabherwal, Javed Hussain Farooqui, Prerna Garg, Umang Mathur, et al. (2021). Internal Audit as a Quality Assurance Tool to Ensure Staff and Patient Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 6(3), 158-163. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12

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ACS Style

Suneeta Dubey; Shalinder Sabherwal; Javed Hussain Farooqui; Prerna Garg; Umang Mathur, et al. Internal Audit as a Quality Assurance Tool to Ensure Staff and Patient Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic. Int. J. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2021, 6(3), 158-163. doi: 10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12

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AMA Style

Suneeta Dubey, Shalinder Sabherwal, Javed Hussain Farooqui, Prerna Garg, Umang Mathur, et al. Internal Audit as a Quality Assurance Tool to Ensure Staff and Patient Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2021;6(3):158-163. doi: 10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12,
  author = {Suneeta Dubey and Shalinder Sabherwal and Javed Hussain Farooqui and Prerna Garg and Umang Mathur and Ashok Kumar Singh},
  title = {Internal Audit as a Quality Assurance Tool to Ensure Staff and Patient Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic},
  journal = {International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science},
  volume = {6},
  number = {3},
  pages = {158-163},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijovs.20210603.12},
  abstract = {We present the process of development and implementation of an internal audit for prevention of spread of COVID-19 at a tertiary eye hospital, which can be used for further improvement of the system and be utilized by similar organizations to enhance patient and staff safety and quality of service. It is a Single center prospective audit. Based on the guidelines put forth by various international (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization) and Indian (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, All India Ophthalmological Society) authorities, preventive protocols were formulated. To ensure compliance of these protocols, audit sheets in the form of checklists and questionnaires were prepared. Facility and process audits were undertaken for registration, outpatient department and pre-surgical counseling. Pilot audits were carried out to develop more detailed audits, and implemented for one week. There was 100% compliance from the staff in personal protective equipment usage and hand hygiene. However, 21 incidents of physical distancing not being maintained by them were noted. Though there was 100% compliance in use of facemask by the staff and patients, 34.5% of patients were noticed wearing the mask improperly. It was also noted that, at the entry, thermal screening was not performed at 6/53 (11.3%) observations with no thermal screener at 3/23 instances. This study describes the process of formulating and conducting audits as a monitoring and evaluation tool, which is most relevant in ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to ensure safety of patients and health care workers.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Internal Audit as a Quality Assurance Tool to Ensure Staff and Patient Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic
AU  - Suneeta Dubey
AU  - Shalinder Sabherwal
AU  - Javed Hussain Farooqui
AU  - Prerna Garg
AU  - Umang Mathur
AU  - Ashok Kumar Singh
Y1  - 2021/07/28
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12
T2  - International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
JF  - International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
JO  - International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
SP  - 158
EP  - 163
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2637-3858
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijovs.20210603.12
AB  - We present the process of development and implementation of an internal audit for prevention of spread of COVID-19 at a tertiary eye hospital, which can be used for further improvement of the system and be utilized by similar organizations to enhance patient and staff safety and quality of service. It is a Single center prospective audit. Based on the guidelines put forth by various international (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization) and Indian (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, All India Ophthalmological Society) authorities, preventive protocols were formulated. To ensure compliance of these protocols, audit sheets in the form of checklists and questionnaires were prepared. Facility and process audits were undertaken for registration, outpatient department and pre-surgical counseling. Pilot audits were carried out to develop more detailed audits, and implemented for one week. There was 100% compliance from the staff in personal protective equipment usage and hand hygiene. However, 21 incidents of physical distancing not being maintained by them were noted. Though there was 100% compliance in use of facemask by the staff and patients, 34.5% of patients were noticed wearing the mask improperly. It was also noted that, at the entry, thermal screening was not performed at 6/53 (11.3%) observations with no thermal screener at 3/23 instances. This study describes the process of formulating and conducting audits as a monitoring and evaluation tool, which is most relevant in ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to ensure safety of patients and health care workers.
VL  - 6
IS  - 3
ER  -

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