At this weekly Quality Assurance Ward Audit, the management and course of all in-patients is discussed, including all operative and other major procedures, and all complications. Each death is discussed in detail. Emphasis is placed on those aspects of complications that represent areas in which practice can be modified to prevent future complications of a similar nature.
These rounds are attended by all of the Neurosurgical attending staff and residents as well as the Head Nurse and a data analyst from QUIST (Quality Utilisation and Information Support Team).
Since 1992 a prospective database containing each patient, their diagnosis, length of stay, all operative procedures, and complications is maintained. This is a source of material which can serve as the basis for a variety of resident research projects and quality assurance reviews.