A term which usually means a financial audit, in which the organization’s financial statement, and the degree to which the statement reflects the actual affairs of the organization, are examined. An audit also includes a review of the procedures used to keep records, prevent losses of funds and equipment, and the like. An audit may be an internal audit or an external audit. When the term is used without a modifier, “audit” refers to an external audit by a public accountant (PA).
In medical care facilities, an official examination of the record of all aspects of patient care. This is done by trained staff who are not usually affiliated with the institution. The purpose of an audit is to compare and evaluate the quality of care provided with accepted standards.