Automated screening for quality of care in the hospital--a feasibility study.

A feasibility study for computer-based quality screening was carried on 497 clinical cases. Rule-directed audit criteria were used. Discharge summaries were analyzed in an effort to detect possible quality problems. The charts of the same cases were also screened by nurses, and the suspected cases of both process es were further reviewed by physicians. The computer-based text analysis compared favorably with the screening by nurses, and showed a rather low false negative rate. The objectives of substantiating the discharge summary as a valid source document for generic quality screening was demonstrated. In addition the economy and feasibility of computer based text analysis and interpretation was proven. Finally the applicability of algorithmic rules in detecting clinical quality indicators showed great promise and presents an area of further research. Thus the feasibility study was highly successful. The potential of computer-based care quality assessment is discussed.