Evaluation of a children's hospital medical peer review programme

Abstract

Abstract The records of medical peer review meetings at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, were audited for the period 1983‐87. This investigation focused on the peer review process, but also evaluated the extent to which recommended changes in medical practice were carried out. The results showed that few recommendations arose from the meetings despite the clear recognition of a number of problem areas. In the instances where firm recommendations were made, few appeared to have been implemented. The main reasons for this failure were: (i) the review was not an integrated part of the medical management structure of the hospital; (ii) recommendations were frequently not made despite cl..