Quality assurance in echocardiography

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.F. Fox ◽  
B.A. Popescu
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Clinical Decisions ◽  
Measurement Variability ◽  
Systematic Process ◽  
Laboratory Life ◽  
Service Need

Quality assurance (QA) in echocardiography is the systematic process of ensuring that information sent out by echo laboratories is timely, appropriate, and accurate. All aspects of a service need to be continuously monitored and optimized if quality is to be maintained and furthermore improved.Particular focus is needed on reporting and measurement with continuous checking for reporting errors and assessment of measurement variability.A systematic QA programme needs to be an essential part of any echo laboratory. Life-determining clinical decisions may depend on it. In this chapter we describe the background to QA, current evidence and guidelines, and a systematic approach to QA.

Quality assurance in echocardiography

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin F. Fox ◽  
Henry J. Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Clinical Decisions ◽  
Quality Assurance Programme ◽  
Measurement Variability ◽  
Systematic Process ◽  
External Process ◽  
Patient’S Experience ◽  
Laboratory Life ◽  
Service Need

Quality assurance in echocardiography is the systematic process of ensuring that information sent out by echo laboratories is timely, appropriate, and accurate. QA may be both an internal and an external process. QA relates to all aspects of a service, so not only should reports be timely, accurate, and useful, but the patient’s experience should be a safe and positive one. All aspects of a service need to be continuously monitored and optimized if quality is to be maintained and furthermore improved. Particular focus is needed on reporting and measurement with continuous checking for reporting errors and assessment of measurement variability. A systematic quality assurance programme needs to be an essential part of any echo laboratory. Life-determining clinical decisions may depend on it.

Quality-Assurance Assessment of Learning Outcomes in Mathematics

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-48
Author(s):  
Seifedine Kadry
Keyword(s):  
Differential Equation ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Student Outcomes ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Student Learning Outcomes ◽  
Assessment Of Learning ◽  
Analyze Data

Student outcomes are statements that describe the attributes; skills and abilities that students should have and be able to do by the time of graduation. For quality assurance evaluation, these outcomes must be assessed. In order to evaluate the level to which an outcome is met, it is necessary to select some courses where the outcome is covered. Course objectives must be linked to the student outcomes and define in terms of measurable performance indicators. Using just two outcomes as an example, this paper presents a systematic approach to assess directly and indirectly student learning outcomes in Mathematics through differential equation course, by define appropriate measurable performance indicators, build up assessment rubrics, collect and analyze data for possible recommendations and improvement.

Oxford Handbook of Cancer Nursing

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Biology ◽  
Complementary Therapies ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Advanced Disease ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Cancer Nursing ◽  
Previous Edition ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Living With Cancer

Taking a systematic approach to the main areas of cancer nursing practice, the Oxford Handbook of Cancer Nursing 2nd edition covers all aspects of cancer care. It guides the user from pre-diagnosis, through treatment, to issues of advanced disease and palliative care. It includes cancer biology, genetics and treatments, as well as new targeted and complementary therapies. It follows a patient-centred approach, with a greater emphasis on survivorship and living with cancer than the previous edition, to reflect changes in prognosis for many different cancers. It is fully updated to follow the current evidence-based research, and takes a multidisciplinary view of the subject.

History and Examination of the Spine

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maggie Henjum ◽  
Jodi Young
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Strength Testing ◽  
Objective Data ◽  
History Taking ◽  
Thoracic And Lumbar Spine ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
A Current

An efficient model for history-taking and physical examination of the spine using a current evidence-based approach provides the foundation for a targeted assessment and treatment plan. Taking a history and examining the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine may be complex, especially if the clinician does not use a systematic approach for collecting subjective and objective data. Included in this chapter are best evidence strategies for observing a patient’s posture and movement patterns, assessing active and passive range of motion, and performing neurologic testing, strength testing, special tests, and palpation. Special attention is given to test clusters and examination items with strong psychometric properties that provide efficient and accurate examination results. By incorporating these strategies into the history and examination, the examiner should be able to rule in or out particular diagnoses that will direct overall management of the patient’s symptoms.

Advancing evidence-based decisions in the management of EGFR-mutated metastatic NSCLC.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e20663-e20663
Author(s):  
Tara Herrmann ◽  
Martin Warters ◽  
Douglas Blevins ◽  
Panos Fidias
Keyword(s):  
Learning Experience ◽  
Patient Simulation ◽  
Treatment Resistance ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Clinical Decisions ◽  
First Line ◽  
Metastatic Nsclc ◽  
Egfr Mutated

e20663 Background: In patients diagnosed with metastatic NSCLC it is now essential to identify targetable mutations and markers of treatment resistance in order to determine the appropriate therapy. A study was conducted to determine if simulation-based educational interventions to address clinical practice gaps could improve decisions of oncologists in the management of EGFR-mutated metastatic NSCLC. Methods: A cohort of US-oncologists who participated in a virtual patient simulation (VPS)-based education was evaluated. The VPS consisted of 2 cases that allowed oncologists to assess the patient and choose from a database of diagnostic possibilities matching the scope and depth of practice. Clinical decisions were analyzed using a decision engine, and instantaneous clinical guidance (CG) employing current evidence-based and expert faculty recommendations was provided after each decision. Oncologists were allowed a second chance at each decision point and decisions before and after CG were compared using a 2-tailed paired T-test to determine differences from pre- to post CG. P values are shown as a measure of significance; with P < .05 statistically significant. Results: 197 oncologists made clinical decisions within the simulation. As a result of CG, significant improvements were observed in: Ordering EGFR mutational testing (16%, P= 0.008) and making an accurate diagnosis (36%) Selecting an EGFR TKI in the first-line setting (24%, P< 0.001) Ordering a PET scan to assess disease progression (10%) and in diagnosing patients with EGFR T790M disease that is resistant (29% , P< 0.001) Evidence-based treatment selection for individuals whose disease progressed on first-line therapy (19%, P= .003) Number of oncologists who ordered adverse event education and counseling (23%, P< .001) Conclusions: This study showed improvements in evidence-based practices of oncologists in the diagnosis and management of EGFR-mutated NSCLC; demonstrating that VPS-based instruction that immerses and engages oncologists for an authentic, practical and16. consequence-free learning experience can result in an increase in appropriate clinical decisions. Therefore, VPS may have a role in improving the quality of patient care.

Quality assurance in protontherapy: a systematic approach in progress at Orsay

1996 ◽  
Vol 83 ◽  
pp. 179s-184s ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mazal ◽  
J.L. Habrand ◽  
F. Lafortune ◽  
N. Breteau
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Systematic Approach

scholarly journals Cerebrovascular disease in patients with cognitive impairment: A white paper from the ESO dementia committee – A practical point of view with suggestions for the management of cerebrovascular diseases in memory clinics

2021 ◽  
pp. 239698732199429
Author(s):  
Ana Verdelho ◽  
Geert Jan Biessels ◽  
Hugues Chabriat ◽  
Andreas Charidimou ◽  
Marco Duering ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cerebrovascular Disease ◽  
Cognitive Disorders ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Clinical Decisions ◽  
Vascular Risk ◽  
Stroke Treatment ◽  
Memory Clinics

Purpose Practical suggestions on clinical decisions about vascular disease management in patients with cognitive impairment are proposed. Methods The document was produced by the Dementia Committee of the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) based on the evidence from the literature where available and on the clinical experience of the Committee members. This paper was endorsed by the ESO. Findings Vascular risk factors and cerebrovascular disease are frequent in patients with cognitive impairment. While acute stroke treatment has evolved substantially in last decades, evidence of management of cerebrovascular pathology beyond stroke in patients with cognitive impairment and dementia is quite limited. Additionally, trials to test some daily-life clinical decisions are likely to be complex, difficult to undertake and take many years to provide sufficient evidence to produce recommendations. This document was conceived to provide some suggestions until data from field trials are available. It was conceived for the use of clinicians from memory clinics or involved specifically in cognitive disorders, addressing practical aspects on diagnostic tools, vascular risk management and suggestions on some therapeutic options. Discussion and conclusions The authors did not aim to do an exhaustive or systematic review or to cover all current evidence. The document approach in a very practical way frequent issues concerning cerebrovascular disease in patients with known cognitive impairment.

A systematic approach to error isolation in computerized wastewater simulation models

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (7) ◽  
pp. 367-376
Author(s):  
J. A. Lennox ◽  
Z. Yuan ◽  
J. Harmand
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Model Structure ◽  
Simulation Data ◽  
Treatment Processes ◽  
Activated Sludge Models

Activated sludge models are used extensively in the study of wastewater treatment processes. While various commercial implementations of these models are available, there are many people who need to code models themselves using the simulation packages available to them. Quality assurance of such models is difficult. While benchmarking problems have been developed and are available, the comparison of simulation data with that of commercial models leads only to the detection, not the isolation of errors. To identify the errors in the code is time-consuming. In this paper, we address the problem by developing a systematic and largely automated approach to the isolation of coding errors. There are three steps: firstly, possible errors are classified according to their place in the model structure and a feature matrix is established for each class of errors. Secondly, an observer is designed to generate residuals, such that each class of errors imposes a subspace, spanned by its feature matrix, on the residuals. Finally, localising the residuals in a subspace isolates coding errors. The algorithm proved capable of rapidly and reliably isolating a variety of single and simultaneous errors in a case study using the ASM1 activated sludge model. In this paper a newly coded model was verified against a known implementation. The method is also applicable to simultaneous verification of any two independent implementations, hence is useful in commercial model development.

Synthesizing Functional Mechanisms From a Link Soup1

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pouya Tavousi ◽  
Kazem Kazerounian ◽  
Horea Ilies
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Divide And Conquer ◽  
Synthesis Methods ◽  
Mechanism Synthesis ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Positional Analysis ◽  
Systematic Process ◽  
Synthesis Procedure ◽  
Functional Mechanisms ◽  
Classical Mechanism

The synthesis of functional molecular linkages is constrained by difficulties in fabricating nanolinks of arbitrary shapes and sizes. Thus, classical mechanism synthesis methods, which assume the ability to manufacture any designed links, cannot provide a systematic process for assembling such linkages. We propose a new approach to building functional mechanisms with prescribed mobility by using only elements from a predefined “link soup.” First, we enumerate an exhaustive set of topologies, while employing divide-and-conquer algorithms to control the generation and elimination of redundant topologies. Then, we construct the linkage arrangements for each valid topology. Finally, we output a set of feasible geometries through a positional analysis step that minimizes the error associated with closure of the loops in the linkage while avoiding geometric interference. The proposed systematic approach outputs the ATLAS of candidate mechanisms, which can be further processed for downstream applications. The resulting synthesis procedure is the first of its kind that is capable of synthesizing functional linkages with prescribed mobility constructed from a soup of primitive entities.

scholarly journals Paving the Way for Business Quality with Integrated Business Innovations: A Case Study Of VERKA

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-159
Author(s):  
Gunmala Suri
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
International Competitiveness ◽  
Cutting Edge ◽  
Quality Assurance System ◽  
Assurance System ◽  
Key Dimensions ◽  
The Way

TQM is not a fixed destiny. It is a continuous journey towards excellence. A strong foundation based on Quality Assurance system in any organization is a must for TQM; Stratton (1993). This is essential to adopt a systematic approach towards regular setting of higher goals of improvements and achieving them continually. Organizations that prepare themselves to endure the test of time, maintain cutting edge on a clearly laid down vision, policy and strategies. The vision guides and communicates with the organization’s people ensuring stead fold commitment to their own aspiration for determining a constancy of purpose. Vision therefore stipulates a process of communication, which builds trust and enables permeation of clear and consistent values through the rank and file of the organization. In order to explore various aspects of international competitiveness MILKFED has identified seven key dimensions (popularly known as 7Cs) have been explored as a case.

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