Implementing laboratory internal audit to improve compliance and quality of care in the municipal public health system-based ambulatory care health clinics in New York city.

Introduction: System-wide laboratory internal audits are useful to help laboratories prepare for external audits in addition to being part of the ongoing program for compliance improvement and quality assurance in the laboratory to track and enhance care quality.

Methods: A formal plan was developed and a modified audit checklist was prepared by our laboratory management team, applicable and uniquely tailored for our ambulatory care clinic settings to track operational, quality, and compliance metrics according to the New York State Department of Health Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program. Two audits were conducted 6 months apart and the conformity documented.