A Study to Determine the Cost of Quality Assurance to the Department of Surgery at US Army Medical Department Activity. Fort Benning, Georgia
Abstract
Defense resources are limited and competition for them in Congress is intense. In order to defend the minimum essential level of health resources needed for the Army, the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) must have complete information to explain its responsibilities and objectives and demonstrate the costs and benefits of its programs to meet them. One such program is quality assurance (QA). The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals substantially revised its approach to quality assurance in April 1979, and a 'new' standard went into effect 1 January 1981. Department of the Army established a formalized quality assurance program in July 1980 with the publication of Army Regulation (AR) 40-66, 'Medical Records and Quality Assurance Administration.' A change in the complexion of health care delivery both in the Army and the nation has made quality assurance a central health care issue. An increase in medical technology, the growing complexity of hospital services, and the rapid emergence of new health care professions have been contributing factors. The level of education of the public has improved dramatically, contributing to greater awareness of and expectations from the health care field.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA222224
Entities
People
- John A. Becker