Clinical peer review: description of a comprehensive model in behavioral healthcare.

This article describes a comprehensive model of clinical peer review that was established at a large behavioral healthcare organization serving children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities. The purpose of peer review is to provide routine evaluation of practice standards that will produce the highest quality of habilitative care. The major components of peer review address (a) clinical support and administration, (b) intervention policies and procedures, (c) case consultation, (d) utilization of extraordinary procedures, (e) performance improvement projects, and (f) communication at all levels of the organization.