Victorian Audit of Surgical Mortality Evaluation

The Objective

This project involved a formative evaluation of Victorian Audit of Surgical Mortality (VASM) by assessing its performance against re-contracted requirements, ensure alignment with reporting obligations, assessment of key performance indicators, and a review of processes for maximising data quality and implementing continuous quality improvement to meet the needs of key stakeholders.

Our Approach

The evaluation included a review of previous evaluations, VASM publications, reports, contract arrangements, staff allocations, and data collection processes. Key research questions were identified, and consultations were held with key stakeholder organisations to understand perceptions of VASM’s activities. A synthesis and analysis of documents and data were conducted to assess VASM’s performance.

The Outcome

The report presented findings on progress from previous evaluation recommendations, compliance with contract deliverables and KPIs, staffing, and system issues, while also identifying stakeholder perspectives. A set of implementable recommendations was provided, emphasising continuous improvement in data quality and stakeholder engagement.