EpiQual

“He iti rā, he iti māpihi pounamu”.
A small contribution can be as valuable as a precious stone.

Key Tasks

1. To provide independent advice to the Minister on quality improvement in the health sector through monitoring of national quality initiatives and to advise the Minister on how clinical outcomes may be improved through such initiatives
2. To advise on data which needs to be collected, using and streamlining existing data collection systems where possible, to enable national conclusions to be drawn.
3. Give advice on priorities for epidemiological studies that will assist in improving clinical outcomes.

In developing its advice, the Committee will consider reports referred to it, including the following:

• Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee, and any other mortality review committee set up under Section 18 of the Act
• New Zealand Health Sector Quality Improvement Strategy
• Reportable Events Monitoring System
• Competency reviews under the proposed Health Professionals Competency Assurance legislation
• Compliance with the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001
• Opinions of the Health and Disability Commissioner, under Section 45 of the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994

It will also:

• Identify data quality and analysis issues, identify information gaps and make recommendations on how to learn from, and prevent, system failures.
• Consider such matters as the Minister specifies by notice to the Committee, such as reporting on perinatal mortality review.
• Advise the Minister on clinical epidemiological matters that will improve clinical practice quality and support other quality assurance initiatives.
• The Committee may also commission, co-ordinate or undertake research projects for the development of advice but, where possible, build on existing and previous reports and policy work.