A yearly summary of quality assessment and improvement in the optometric pediatric clinics of the SUNY College of Optometry.

BACKGROUND

Each clinic within the University Optometric Center (UOC) of the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry develops a Quality Management (QM) Plan for each calendar year. The vehicle for implementation is a Quality Assessment and Improvement (QA&I) committee. The clinical adherence to the objectives are reviewed each year. The following article is a review of the QA&I reports of the Pediatric Vision Clinics within the College for the year 1996.

METHODS

Clinical records were concurrently and retrospectively reviewed for completeness and appropriateness of care. One hundred percent of the records were concurrently reviewed, and 10% of each doctors' total records were retrospectively reviewed. In addition, records with specific diagnoses--chosen as clinical indicators--were reviewed for a specified period of time.

RESULTS

Patient satisfaction exceeded predetermined threshold values. On general review, the clinical faculty performed at a 95% efficiency level. The pediatric population yielded only minimal major pathologies. In our strabismic sample, patients with esotropia exceeded those with exotropia (61% vs. 39%). Strabismic amblyopes were more prevalent than refractive amblyopes (80% vs. 20%). Preschool vision therapy appeared to be successful in most cases.

CONCLUSION

Quality assessment and improvement is an ongoing process that can provide an overview of case management and type. The process serves to monitor quality of care, provide a modality for improvement, enhance outcomes, and guide future QM plans.