How often should swallow screens be audited by designated staff?

Swallow screens are a critical component of stroke care, aiming to quickly assess a patient's ability to safely swallow and reduce the risk of aspiration. Regular audits of the swallow screening process are essential to ensure adherence to protocols, maintain the quality of care, and identify areas for improvement.

Auditing the swallow screens monthly strikes a balance between frequency and practicality. It allows for timely oversight without overwhelming staff or resources. Monthly audits help ensure that staff remains proficient in administering and interpreting swallow screens, and they facilitate the ongoing training and evaluation necessary to keep up with best practices.

Conducting these audits on a monthly basis supports quality assurance measures and compliance with standards that prioritize patient safety, particularly in a stroke population, where the risk of swallowing difficulties is elevated. This frequency of review is generally recommended by guidelines as it provides enough opportunity to catch inconsistencies in practice or potential areas that need further training.

Daily audits may be excessive, as they could lead to audit fatigue and may not yield significant changes or insights quickly enough, while weekly audits could similarly be burdensome without providing substantial benefits. Bi-annual audits may not be frequent enough to address issues in a timely manner, risking patient safety. Thus, a monthly audit frequency is optimal for maintaining high standards of care