Clinical Audit: Definition, Process, Impact and Limitations

Running head: CLINICAL AUDIT
Clinical Audit
Name
University

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Abstract
The purpose of this essay will be to look at clinical auditing by defining what a clinical audit
is, describing the process of clinical auditing, analyzing its impact on education and training,
clinical effectiveness, risk management, research and development. The paper will also look
at the benefits and limitations of a clinical audit.

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Introduction
Clinical audit is one of the facets of clinical governance and it is defined as a quality
improvement process/cycle that focuses on improving healthcare delivery to patients. This is
done by conducting a systematic review of an individual patient’s health outcomes and
comparing it against well-defined standards (Esposito & Canton, 2014). A clinical audit is
important especially for healthcare professionals because it ensures that patients receive the
best possible care while they are in a health facility. An audit is a reliable way of proving that
care delivery and treatment are in line with best practice standards and they lead to better
health outcomes (Burgess, 2011). This essay will look at the process of a clinical audit, its
impact on education and training, clinical effectiveness, research and risk management.
The Process of Clinical Audit
The process of auditing involves a cycle of five activities the first of which involves
identifying a problem area where standards are not being met for example long waiting times
in the emergency unit (Limb et al. 2017). After the problem areas have been identified,
standards or criteria need to be developed that are related to quality care in healthcare.
Standards or guidelines that already exist can also be used (Yorston & Wormald, 2010). The
next step of the audit process involves collecting data by determining which information
should be collected, by whom and when, the sample size and if it is to be collected on a
continuous basis (Hexter, 2013).
Once the relevant information has been gathered, it is compared to the current best
practices by looking at actual healthcare delivery being done by staff. The data that has been
gathered is evaluated on the basis of whether the standards have been met and if not, the
factors and reasons that affect best practice performance (Hexter, 2013). The next step of the
process involves presenting the results to the relevant departments in the facility so that an

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action plan can be developed and implemented to improve on best practice. Evaluation needs
to be done after some time to assess if there are any improvements in care delivery. This is
done by gathering new information and comparing it against the set standards to determine if
there is an improvement (Benjamin, 2008).
Impact on Education and Training
Education and training refers to professional development and education where all
healthcare providers are required to engage in continuing education activities to ensure that
best practice is being performed (Starey, 2018). Continuing education is important because
what was learnt during nursing or medical school becomes outdated very quickly because of
new evidence-based research. It therefore becomes important to update ones professional
education to ensure that the best available healthcare is being given to health consumers
(Starey, 2018).
A clinical audit reviews the performance of healthcare personnel as they perform their
duties in a healthcare setting. The results of the audit are meant to improve the delivery
system and practice against the already set performance standards (Starey, 2018). In an audit
feedback process, the performance of individual members of a team are analyzed and
measured against their professional standards and current best practices. The results of the
audit are usually communicated back to the individual so that they can see which areas need
improvement and whether further education is needed to meet best practice standards (Ivers
et al., 2012. p.2).
Clinical audit impacts education and training because it identifies areas of
improvement in the performance of an individual during care delivery. It also provides a
method of reflecting on one’s performance while they are performing care based on the set
out standards. In the United Kingdom, doctors who are in training usually undergo at least