Open AccessAn integrated software system for quality assurance‐related kappa coefficient analysis of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography interpretive skills
Author(s) -
Rafferty T.,
Edwards B.,
Judd J.,
Swamy V.,
Workman R.,
Lippmann H.,
Harris S.,
Cohen I.,
Prokop E.,
Ezekowitz M.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960161012
Subject(s) - medicine , quality assurance , medical physics , software , radiology , pathology , computer science , programming language , external quality assessment
Abstract This report describes the development of a quality assurance‐oriented integrated software system designed for an anesthesiology‐based intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography service. Entry data include patient and operation demographics, two‐dimensional echocardiographic, saline‐contrast, and color flow/pulsed Doppler assessments of the heart and great vessels, presented in a defined sequence. A statistical analysis component (kappa coefficient analysis) allows for comparison of intraoperative real‐time interpretations with laboratory interpretations made by experienced full‐time echocardiographers on a field‐by‐field basis. This provides a means of quantifying expertise in each individual aspect of the patient examination sequence. We believe that such self‐appraisal data are essential for delineating the status and tracking the progress of service being provided.