Quality Assurance (QA) is an activity where the primary purpose is to monitor or improve the quality of service delivered by an individual or organisation and includes terms such as ‘quality assurance’, ‘quality improvement’, ‘quality activities’, ‘clinical audit’ and ‘audit’.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has published Ethical Considerations in Quality Assurance and Evaluation Activities (NHMRC; 2014) to facilitate oversight of Quality Assurance activities for individuals and organisations conducting quality assurance activities who are responsible for ensuring that:
- participants are afforded appropriate protections and respect
- QA activities comply with all relevant legislation and regulations
- organisations provide guidance and oversight to ensure activities are conducted ethically including a pathway to address concerns
At the Eye and Ear, staff are encouraged to undertake QA activities.
What is the difference between research and quality assurance activities?
The answer is not simple and does require consideration and judgement.
Irrespective of whether an activity is QA, evaluation or research, the activity must be conducted in a way that is ethical.
In many situations, oversight of the activity is required, but ethical review is not necessary.
Where ethical review by an HREC is not required, organisations should consider providing a statement which affirms that an alternative approach to ethical review was considered to be appropriate for the specific QA/evaluation activity if this is required for publication purposes.
Authorisation requirements
The Research Office provides a review procedure to facilitate QA activities (and clinical audit).
Prior to commencing your QA activity, please complete a Quality Assurance Activity Application Form and submit to the Research Office by email to ethics@eyeandear.org.au for review.
Staff are required to seek approval from the Head of Unit / Clinic / Department prior to undertaking any QA activity.
The Clinical Improvement and Risk and Quality teams initiate and support quality improvement activities to improve models of care, patient safety programs and compliance with accreditation standards.
