Image and report quality in non-obstetric ultrasound examinations undertaken by sonographers: Results of an audit of 3731 cases

Ultrasound ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1742271X2110330
Author(s):  
Simon Freeman ◽  
Peter Cantin ◽  
Catherine Gutteridge ◽  
Petra Williams ◽  
Sarah Hamilton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internal Audit ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Quality Standard ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Obstetric Ultrasound ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Report Quality ◽  
Soft Copy ◽  
Examination Quality ◽  
Audit Standards

Introduction This paper reports the results of a rolling audit of sonographer-performed non-obstetric ultrasound examinations undertaken between 2010 and 2020 in a large University Teaching Hospital Ultrasound Department in the United Kingdom. We believe that this represents the largest published audit of sonographer non-obstetric ultrasound examination quality. Methods Random samples of sonographer ultrasound examinations were regularly and systematically audited by consultant-level ultrasound practitioners through review of soft copy images and reports. Examination and report quality were assessed against an internal audit standard in 3731 patients over an 11-year period and also against externally set audit standards in 3186 patients over a nine-year period. Results Both image and report quality exceeded externally set audit standards in all nine years of audit. In the internal audit, the quality standard just failed to be met for the first five years of audit but was achieved in all the subsequent six years. Conclusion This audit provides further information on the quality and safety of sonographer-led ultrasound service delivery within a service that has quality safeguards, readily available support and an active education programme. It is used not only to provide assurance to patients, clinicians, managers and commissioners of this service but also to direct individual professional development and drive an iterative process of quality improvement.

scholarly journals Comments by the Auditing Standards Committee of the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association on IIA’s Exposure Draft of 2010 International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. C1-C4 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Bierstaker ◽  
Lawrence Abbott ◽  
Susan Parker
Keyword(s):  
Professional Practice ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Exposure Period ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Internal Auditing ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Auditing Standards ◽  
Audit Standards

SUMMARY: Recently, the Institute of Internal Auditor’s (IIA) Internal Audit Standards Board (IASB) conducted a comprehensive review of the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (Standards). The IIA proposed changes to some of the Standards and also recommended new Standards. The IIA provided for a 90-day exposure period (from February 15, 2010, to May 14, 2010) for interested parties to examine and provide comments on the proposed changes and new Standards. The Auditing Standards Committee of the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association provided the comments in the letter below to the IIA on the 2010 International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing exposure draft.

Melanoma in the South-East of Scotland: A Review

1980 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 222-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Stilwell ◽  
V. Crucioli
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Health Education ◽  
General Hospital ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Potential Danger ◽  
The Public ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Pigmented Lesion ◽  
Health Education Programme

A review was carried out of 129 patients with extraocular melanoma of the skin who were treated at Bangour General Hospital during the period 1968 to 1978 in order to compare our findings with those of earlier studies in the United Kingdom. The clinical features of our series were very similar to those of earlier studies but the impression is that the incidence since the war has been rising. This was confirmed with a sub-group of our patients in which the incidence in West Lothian increased by 52 per cent from the first to the second five-year period; this was statistically significant. One disturbing fact was that only 25 per cent of patients presented for treatment in less than six months from the onset of symptoms, suggesting that the potential danger of a pigmented lesion is not appreciated by the public. A health education programme is long overdue.

Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) and the law of unintended consequences.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e18327-e18327
Author(s):  
Scheryll Paula Alken ◽  
Linda E. Coate ◽  
Bernie Woulfe ◽  
NIamh O'Leary ◽  
Ivana M Capin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Education Programme ◽  
Tumour Marker ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Ca 125 ◽  
Cancer Antigen 125 ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Serum Ca125 ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Finance Department

e18327 Background: CA125 is a serum tumour marker used to monitor patients with ovarian cancer (OvCa). Its usefulness as a screening tool remains unproven. There is no restriction in its use at our institution, a university teaching hospital. We sought to establish patterns of testing during one calendar year (2013), focussing on the economic costs of such unrestricted testing. Methods: A lookback of the CA125 reports issued by the Biochemistry Laboratory was undertaken. The CA125 requests were from physicians within the hospital & from the community. Individual requests for CA125 & those part of tumour marker panel were included & correlated with radiology & histopathology records to identify subsequent investigations (invxs) & diagnoses (dxs). Economic costings were provided by hospital finance department. For the purpose of this study we only included the costs of invxs triggered by out of range CA 125 test results. Results: In 2013, 7,132 CA125 measurements were performed. 871 repeat tests, 40 tests performed on men & 16 tests with inadequate patient identifiers were excluded. Of the remaining 6,205 patient tests; median age was 53yrs (range 13 – 96yrs); median CA125 was 5.5 IU/L (range 0.1 – 22452 IU/L). Out of range tests (>35 IU/L) led to 619 ultrasound scans, 339 CT scans. In total, 20 new cases of OvCa were dx. The crude cost per new dx was €11,459.80. Median time to diagnosis was 4 days (range -2 – 251), median CA125 at dx was 271 (range 8.1 - 9444). Median age at dx was 62 (range 40 – 87). 65% of dx were made during inpatient stays;10% by family physicians;25% by gynaecologists. There was a statistically significant difference in median CA125 in patients diagnosed with OvCa, compared to those who were not dx with a malignant condition (p<0.0001); this was not true of age at dx (p=0.27). Conclusions: This study underlines the lack of efficacy in unrestricted serum CA125 testing & that such testing creates a significant economic burden on hospitals, far in excess of the cost of the CA125 test alone. We plan to implement guidelines in our institution & will reassess this issue following an education programme with local clinicians. [Table: see text]

Internal audit as an antecedent of economic growth

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulaziz Alzeban
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internal Auditors ◽  
Transparency International ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Audit Standards ◽  
Professional Standing

PurposeThis paper reports a study that examines the role of the internal audit function as a cornerstone of corporate governance, on economic growth.Design/methodology/approachData were obtained from 108 countries for the period 2011–2015. The World Bank, the Institute of Internal Auditors Research Foundation and the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index were the data sources. Two statistical techniques were used: regression analysis to test the study hypotheses and the Chi-squared test to determine whether variations between countries.FindingsThe findings suggest that conformance with internal audit standards and maturity (in years) of the internal audit department contribute to economic growth. They also reveal a relationship between the professional standing of internal audit staff (represented by professional qualifications and number of training hours annually) and the contribution to economic growth, that being that the greater the professional standing of staff, the greater internal audit conformance to the standards and the higher the contribution to economic growth. Further, the findings reveal that the impact of internal audit on economic growth varies among countries according to income classifications.Originality/valueThe consideration of internal audit as one of the four fundamental bases of corporate governance, and therefore, its relationship with economic growth is a neglected topic in the research arena. This study addresses that shortcoming by providing worldwide evidence on the contribution of internal audit to economic growth and, thus, makes a new contribution to the literature. Further, evidence is provided to enlighten poorly performing economies of the value of mandating the presence of internal audit and the compliance of it with international internal audit standards.

Paediatric Occupational Therapy University Programme Curricula in the United Kingdom

2005 ◽  
Vol 68 (10) ◽  
pp. 457-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Ted Brown ◽  
Anita Brown ◽  
Carsten Roever
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Occupational Therapy Education ◽  
Entry Level ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Eclectic Approach ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Therapy Education

The paediatric curriculum component of entry-level occupational therapy education programmes in the United Kingdom was examined and comparisons were made with the practice literature to determine if students were being taught current best practices. Questionnaires were mailed electronically to the identified paediatric faculty members of the 27 universities with an entry-level occupational therapy education programme in the United Kingdom. Ten completed questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 37%. The survey results indicated that paediatrics constituted less than 5% of the total curriculum content of the respondent university programmes. The theory, assessments and treatment approaches taught in the education programmes were similar to those used in clinical practice with children. Some gaps in what was taught to students were apparent, notably in the key paediatric area of visual perceptual dysfunction. The theory, assessments and intervention methods were not always taught as a cohesive stand-alone unit, so gaps occurred in the education programmes. This could lead to graduates using an eclectic approach or using personal conceptual frameworks based on postgraduate learning and work experience.

scholarly journals A ‘PERMA’ Response to the Pandemic: An Online Positive Education Programme to Promote Wellbeing in University Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blaire Morgan ◽  
Laura Simmons
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Virtual Learning Environment ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Positive Education ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Sources Of Support ◽  
Practical Implications

Pre-existing issues regarding the wellbeing and mental health of university students have subsequently been compounded by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Research signals that anxiety and depression symptomology has increased in university students’ following the COVID-19 outbreak, and mental wellbeing has declined. In response to concerns around mental health of students in Higher Education (HE), and to support the transition to remote working during the pandemic, we designed and implemented an 8-week wellbeing program based on positive education frameworks and practices. The online program was delivered in a West Midlands-based university in the United Kingdom, to undergraduate and postgraduate psychology students. The weekly sessions [ran through a virtual learning environment (VLE)] aimed to 1) provide students with a community and an opportunity to feel connected with other students, 2) introduce students to key concepts of wellbeing, and 3) equip students with knowledge and resources that would help sustain/improve their wellbeing. In this paper we outline how positive education, and specifically the “PERMA” wellbeing framework, has inspired the development of this wellbeing program (including the accompanying VLE webpages and sources of support) and future plans for evaluation. We further describe the content and delivery of this program alongside practical implications, lessons learned and important constraints. We situate this discussion alongside consideration of ongoing wellbeing support requirements following the pandemic and issues regarding wider integration of PERMA approaches in university contexts.

scholarly journals Developments in Academic Audit in New Zealand Universities

1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cedric Hall
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Quality Education ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Academic Activities ◽  
Vice Chancellors ◽  
The University ◽  
Self Examination

As in other countries, education at the tertiary level in New Zealand has undergone major organisational, structural and funding changes in recent years. At the same time tertiary institutions have been placed under increasing pressure both to make more efficient use of their resources and to ensure that they provide a “quality” education to their communities. This pressure comes at a time in New Zealand when student numbers, but not resources, have increased substantially. This paper focuses on developments by New Zealand universities to monitor jointly the quality of their academic activities. During 1992, the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (NZVCC), with assistance from the University Teaching Development Centre (UTDC) of Victoria University, organised three workshops/seminars on the theme of quality assurance in New Zealand universities. This paper provides a synopsis of the discussions and outcomes of the three meetings, including coverage of the pressures for change, the issues that were debated, and the self-examination required of universities as they prepare for the first round of “academic audit”. A summary is also given of developments in British universities because of the strong British influence on New Zealand developments and the similarity between many of the issues confronted in the United Kingdom and those being encountered in New Zealand.

Internal Audit Structure and Fraud Risk Assessment From a Regulatory Perspective

2019 ◽  
pp. 302-332
Author(s):  
Lale Aslan
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Portfolio Management ◽  
Internal Audit ◽  
Internal Auditors ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
Critical Areas ◽  
Regulatory Perspective ◽  
Descriptive Approach ◽  
Audit Standards

This chapter aims to depict the role of internal audit in Turkish capital markets by comparing the internal audit structure and its role in detecting fraud in financial institutions and developing a framework for assessing fraud risk in intermediary institutions. The newly constructed regulations concerning banks, intermediary institutions, and portfolio management companies are compared to a global benchmark by using a conceptual and descriptive approach. According to the results of this comparison, it is clear that Turkish legislation needs to be improved in critical areas. “Integrity” should be incorporated as a founding concept of the internal audit function. Certification of internal auditors needs to be encouraged, and internal audit standards need to be adapted. As a result, a fraud risk assessment template influenced by the new regulatory framework is developed for intermediary institutions.

An evaluation of a unified practice assessment document for student nurses: Students’, mentors’ and academics’ views and experiences

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 24-37
Author(s):  
Lesley Baillie ◽  
Jane Fish
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Student Nurses ◽  
User Involvement ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Skills Acquisition ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Framework Approach ◽  
Practice Assessment

Assessment of students’ performance in practice is an essential part of a health and social care education programme. In the United Kingdom, most nursing practice assessment documentation is specific to each university, leading to concerns about consistency. This paper’s aim is to present the development and evaluation of a unified practice assessment document. Nine London universities worked collaboratively with stakeholders to develop a pan-London practice assessment document, which aimed to increase consistency and quality of practice assessment. The evaluation aimed to investigate the views of nursing students, mentors and academics regarding implementation and use of the document in practice. Focus groups were conducted with students (n=46 in 6 groups), mentors (n=46 in 7 groups) and academic staff (n=42 in 6 groups) and the data were analysed using the framework approach. Four themes are presented: a robust and consistent approach; assessing professional values; essential skills acquisition; service user involvement. The new document was considered to foster consistency, reduce confusion and workload for mentors, and promote standardisation for practice assessment of student nurses across London. 

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