Health Quality Council of Alberta releases terms of reference for an independent review of the quality of care and safety of patients requiring access to emergency department care and cancer surgery and the role and process of physician advocacy

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CALGARY, March 17 /PRNewswire/ – The Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA)
today released the terms of reference for an independent review of the
quality of care and safety of patients requiring access to emergency
department care and cancer surgery and the role and process of
physician advocacy. The purpose of the review is to identify and
analyze issues related to these two important services and make
recommendations to improve system performance. The independent review
will be provincial in scope and will be conducted under Section 9 of
the Alberta Evidence Act to maintain evidentiary privilege over the provision of documents and
evidence of participants. Alberta Health and Wellness Minister Gene
Zwozdesky requested the review under Section 13 of the Health Quality Council of Alberta Regulation.

In making the terms of reference public, HQCA Chief Executive Officer
Dr. John Cowell noted that while the HQCA has conducted many reviews in
the past, this review is unprecedented in that it is the first time the
organization has initiated its own terms of reference. “We are
committed to transparency throughout the review process and Minister
Zwozdesky supports this transparency,” says Cowell. “That is why the
terms of reference are being made public now and the findings and
recommendations will be made public once the report is complete.”

According to HQCA Council Chair Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, Minister Zwozdesky
has directed the HQCA to establish its own processes and procedures for
the review, including the selection of individuals that may be needed
to assist throughout the process. “There will be a panel of experts
appointed to assist and advise the HQCA Council in this review,” says
Tyrrell.

“Our goal in conducting this and any other review is not to lay blame on
any one individual or organization but to look at system-wide issues
and opportunities for improvement,” adds Dr. Cowell. A full report of
the findings and recommendations will be made public within nine
months. Progress reports will be publicly released three and six months
into the review.

As an independent organization legislated under the Regional Health Authorities Act, the Health Quality Council of Alberta gathers and analyzes information
and collaborates with Alberta Health and Wellness, Alberta Health
Services, health professions and other stakeholders to translate that
knowledge into practical improvements to health service quality and
patient safety in the health care system.

The terms of reference are attached and are available at www.hqca.ca.

Review of the Quality of Care and Safety of Patients Requiring Access to
Emergency Department Care and Cancer Surgery and the Role and Process
of Physician Advocacy

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Objectives and Scope

Pursuant to section 13 of the Health Quality Council of Alberta Regulation 130/2006 (the “Regulation”), the Health Quality Council of Alberta
(“HQCA”) will, through a quality assurance committee, conduct a full
and thorough review of:

Part A: Quality of Care and Safety of Patients requiring Emergency
Department Care and Cancer Surgery

      1. To determine whether the quality of care provided to and the
         safety of:

         a. a group of 321 patients that accessed emergency department
         services at the University of Alberta Hospital (UAH) during 2008,
         and

         b. a group of 9 patients that accessed emergency department
         services at the UAH during 2010

         was significantly compromised due to extended lengths of stays
         awaiting diagnosis and treatment in the emergency department.
         These cases were identified publicly on October 22, 2010. The
         cases had been collected by the emergency department physicians
         serving in the role of triage physicians at the UAH.

      2. To determine whether the quality of care and the safety of a group
         of 250 cancer patients on a surgical wait list of 1,200 from 2003
         to 2006, were seriously compromised due to delayed access to
         surgery as alleged in a document tabled in the Alberta Legislature
         on February 28, 2011.

      3. Based on the findings and analysis of the investigation and an
         analysis of current practices, make recommendations for
         system-level improvements in access and wait times for emergency
         department care and cancer treatment.

Part B: Role and Process of Physician Advocacy in Patient Safety and
Health Service Quality

      1. To investigate the role and ability of physicians to advocate for
         patients whose quality of care and safety the physicians believe
         is or could be compromised due to system resources or policies.

      2. Based on the findings and analysis of the investigation and an
         analysis of current practices, make recommendations for
         system-level improvements in the policies and practices relating
         to physician advocacy intended to serve the best interests of
         patients.

The Council has established a quality assurance committee under section
10(2) of the Regulation for the purpose of conducting the planned and
systematic study, assessment and evaluation of the matters set out
above.  The quality assurance committee must conduct the review as a
quality assurance activity under section 9 of the Alberta Evidence Act.  A team of health professionals and system review experts who have no
known association with the specific matters under review will be
appointed to the quality assurance committee.

A panel of experts will be appointed to assist and advise the Council in
this review.

Under section 10 of the Regulation the HQCA has access to information
held by health authorities for the purpose of carrying out its
objects.  The HQCA, which is a custodian of health information, can
support the quality assurance committee’s work by providing necessary
health information to the Committee in accordance with section 35 of
the Health Information Act. 

Deliverables and Timeline

John W. F. Cowell M.Sc, MD, CCFP, FRCP, the CEO of the HQCA is the
review sponsor.

A full report of the findings and recommendations will be made public as
soon as is feasible but is expected to be released within 9 months.   A
progress report will be released publicly at 3 months and 6 months.

Approved by the Council of the Health Quality Council of Alberta

[Original signed by D. Lorne J. Tyrrell]

___________________________________________  March 17, 2011

D. Lorne J. Tyrrell, OC, AOE, MD/PhD, FRCP    

Chair

SOURCE Health Quality Council of Alberta