What defines a baseline audit?

A baseline audit is characterized by its approach to understanding and establishing a point of comparison for future audits. In this context, it typically involves assessing all services provided within a defined time frame to gather comprehensive data about overall performance and compliance. This helps healthcare organizations to identify trends, areas needing improvement, and to measure changes over time.

By reviewing all services during a specific period, a baseline audit sets a foundation for understanding operational or clinical benchmarks. This holistic view allows for more targeted assessments in the future, enabling organizations to better monitor shifts in practice or compliance.

While other types of audits, such as focused audits, target specific services, the broad nature of a baseline audit is what distinguishes it in the audit process. It provides a foundation from which more detailed or specific audits can later evolve, allowing for meaningful comparisons and evaluations of improvements or regressions in practice.