The system has also been adapted for the surgical specialties of orthopaedics, urology, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, neurosurgery, gynaecology, paediatric, plastic, vascular and cardiothoracic surgery. The audit software comes with a comprehensive set of manuals covering practical issues of correct and complete data collection and verification with examples and hints for integrating the audit functions into the day to day running of a sugical department. Forms for collecting data are also provided and methods of starting and completing these are suggested. Suggestions for achieving high quality data collection with minimal disruption to office routines are made. The data set includes patient, admission, operation, complication and diagnostic details.
Extra information is collected on symptoms and risk factors for vascular patients.
A user friendly computer program for data entry with a comprehensive manual and on line screen helps has been designed. A waiting list manager and the ability to generate discharge letters from audit data has been included in the program. This saves time for secretaries who can enter audit data and type the discharge note at the same time, leaving the computer to print the letters later. A mortality morbidity meeting each month reviews mortality and morbidity data and other reports are reviewed by staff as necessary. The program runs on any IBM compatible computer.