Although the mantra “By the Members, for the Members” is the basis of all ASA committees, the day-to-day activities of the ASA Committee on Quality Management and Departmental Administration (QMDA) reflect the practices and dilemmas encountered by ASA members each and every day. QMDA is charged with the responsibility of continuously reviewing all matters pertaining to peer review, quality management, departmental administration and medical staff issues that come to its attention from all sources, including governmental agencies, third-party insurers and voluntary agencies.

Additionally the committee serves as the liaison from ASA to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) on all matters pertaining to peer review, quality improvement and medical staff issues.

The committee receives dozens of questions and comments annually from ASA members related to the issues described above. To respond to these questions, the committee communicates extensively, often on a daily basis, and completes ASA “business” year-round through an ASA electronic listserve. To serve as a source of information on peer review, quality improvement, departmental administration and medical staff issues, QMDA has developed a multitude of multimedia programs that are readily available to ASA members.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Departmental Organization But Were Afraid to Ask
The Manual for Anesthesia Department Organization and Management (MADOM) continues to be an outstanding work product of QMDA. Although an extensive revision was prepared in 2001, in the spring of 2003, the committee completed and published its most recent edition. MADOM compiles much of the administrative information required by the leadership of an anesthesiology department in any setting (office, private practice, hospital or university). It is specifically designed to offer information to ASA members about the individual and collective responsibilities of their medical staffs, departments, groups and managed care organizations. Many ASA members refer to the MADOM as the “soup to nuts” guide to establishing or managing an anesthesiology department. The MADOM serves as the primary reference document in the ASA Anesthesia Consultation Program (see page 12 of this issue for “Finding Help in Troubled Waters: An Update on the ASA Consultation Program”). The 2003 MADOM is currently available in both print and electronic versions and can be ordered through the ASA Publications Department by calling (847) 825-5586.

JCAHO Will Inspect My Hospital Next Week — Now What?
Under the initial direction of Ronald A. Gabel, M.D., and now maintained by Robert S. Lagasse, M.D., QMDA has developed a Web site that features an interactive program specifically designed to answer anesthesiologists’ questions about compliance with JCAHO policies, guidelines and standards. This toolkit was designed to assist ASA members responsible for their department’s compliance with JCAHO requirements. The Committee on Electronic Media and Information Technology and the Committee on Information Management regularly contribute their expertise to maintaining the Web site. QMDA appreciates the efforts of ASA Web Administrator Anita A. Abbatacola and Director of Information Services Janice L. Plack, without whose assistance this Web site might still be merely a pipe dream. The site has become increasingly popular among ASA members and currently draws approximately 2,500 “hits” per month. The toolkit can be found at <www.ASAhq.org/clinical/toolkit/toolkithome.htm>.

I Learn Best by Attending Lectures and Having the Opportunity to ‘Ask the Experts’
For the past several years, QMDA has held a panel discussion at the ASA Annual Meeting. Typically the experts on the panels address a variety of “hot” topics in lecture format and then encourage attendees to join in highly interactive discussions. The QMDA panel at the Annual Meeting last year was titled “2003 JCAHO Survival Kit” and dealt with such issues as “When Is Informed Consent Not?,” “Sedation Standards: Where Are We Now?,” “The Latest in 360 Degree Evaluations” and “Mock JCAHO Surveys: Are They Worth My Time and My Hospital’s Money?” Discussions were led by Karin Bierstein, J.D., Beverly K. Philip, M.D., James S. Hicks, M.D., Walter G. Maurer, M.D., and Jeffrey L. Apfelbaum, M.D.

How Can You Help Me Set Up a QA Program?
Under the direction of Jerry A. Cohen, M.D., QMDA offers software for anesthesiology quality management that is available free of charge to all ASA members. The original software program was developed and written by Dr. Cohen and is designed to run under operating systems from DOS to Windows XP. It is accompanied by an instruction manual and quality management templates provided in Adobe Acrobat pdf format. The software has been downloaded by more than 250 members in the past year. It can be accessed on the “Members Only” section of the ASA Web site.

Does QMDA Reply to Member Questions?
YES! As soon as a member’s question is received, it is disseminated electronically to all committee members for discussion. Typically a response is generated to the ASA member within a few weeks. The QMDA committee is dedicated to serving the ASA membership and most assuredly welcomes any and all inquiries in areas within the scope of our mission.

Jeffrey L. Apfelbaum, M.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Chicago Hospitals, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.