Ambulatory Medical Care Quality

Prior to altering the pattern of medical care, a 10% sample of patients from the medical clinics of a university-related city hospital were evaluated to document aspects of the quality of medical care being given. Diagnostic outcomes were determined by data from specialized multiphasic screening that compared newly acquired medical data with physician knowledge of abnormalities recorded in the clinical record. Physicians were unaware of a variety of abnormalities in the 606 patients. These results were interpreted as unacceptable diagnostic outcomes and supported the impression that a breakdown in patient care existed. By delineating specific problem areas, this information has provided direction for the restructuring of ambulatory care.