Improving clinical indicators in acute admissions to the Department of Geriatric Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital

Abstract

Clinical indicators are an important component of quality assessment of clinical services. We outlinethe strategies used in the department of Geriatric Medicine at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) to reporton and improve the results. The clinical indicator for assessment of cognitive function had improvedfrom 19% in September 1998 to 64% in February 1999. The clinical indicator for assessment ofphysical function has been maintained at 80%. There have been revisions to the definitions of theclinical indicators for 1999. The current clinical indicators used in this department can be modifiedfor comparison nationwide amongst geriatric units.