Department review: a PSRO approach from the hospital's perspective.

The following article is the first in a two-part series which describes a departmental review system developed by the Area VII Professional Standards Review Organization (PSRO) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In part one, an overview of the general approach to departmental review is presented. In part two, which will be published in a future issue of the QRB, application of some aspects of the system to a specific department--diagnostic radiology--will be presented. Although developed by the staff of a PSRO, the approach to departmental review described envisions such review as a delegated activity to be conducted on an individual hospital basis.