What is a good selection size for an audit?

Selecting an appropriate sample size for an audit is crucial to ensure that the audit results are both reliable and statistically significant. Choosing a range of 10-15 charts per provider strikes a balance between obtaining a comprehensive view of the provider's performance while remaining manageable in terms of time and resources.

Auditing too few charts may not adequately represent the overall quality of care provided, and the findings could be skewed. Selection of 10-15 charts typically allows for capturing variations in documentation and coding practices, which is essential for a meaningful assessment of compliance and quality. This range also provides enough data to identify patterns or trends that might require further investigation.

Sample sizes that are too small, such as just 5-10 charts, may lead to inconclusive findings. On the other hand, selecting a larger number, such as 15-20 or 20-25 charts, could potentially overwhelm the auditor and consume excessive time and resources, without necessarily adding significant value to the audit results.

In summary, 10-15 charts per provider is a well-considered selection size that enables audits to be efficient while also offering a good representation of the providers' practices.