What does quality assurance in healthcare evaluate?

Quality assurance in healthcare primarily focuses on evaluating the care of patients using established standards. This involves assessing whether healthcare services are meeting predetermined benchmarks for quality, effectiveness, and safety. The goal of quality assurance is to ensure that patients receive high-quality care that adheres to best practices, clinical guidelines, and regulatory requirements.

When evaluating the care of patients, quality assurance measures often include reviews of clinical outcomes, adherence to protocols, and overall performance metrics within healthcare settings. By establishing and monitoring these standards, healthcare organizations can identify areas for improvement, enhance patient outcomes, and ensure that services are delivered safely and effectively.

While patient satisfaction and feedback, patient complications and readmission rates, and financial performance are important aspects of overall healthcare quality, they are not the primary focus of quality assurance. Instead, these elements can serve as indicators of performance or outcomes that result from the quality of care provided, rather than the direct measurement of care against established clinical standards.