The objectives of a Disability Determination Service (DDS) Quality Assurance (QA) system:

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  enable DDS to provide the best possible service to the public;

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  detect and correct errors in DDS claims processing;

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  identify problem areas;

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  develop recommendations for initiating corrective actions;

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  target training needs to improve performance;

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  provide a means for measuring individual and group performance; and,

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  test alternative procedures to minimize cost.

A successful DDS QA system:

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  is an independent arm of DDS management;

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  subjects all types and levels of disability determinations to sample reviews;

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  selects random samples of cases;

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  provides a systematic review of substantive and technical disability case issues;

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  reviews all operational, policy, and procedural aspects of claims;

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  records, analyzes, and reports data;

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  generates recommendations to be used by DDS management to improve performance;

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  incorporates in-line quality measures that build quality directly into the case development process;

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  promotes the use of electronic processes to identify and correct errors during case processing; and,

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  encourages open communications with the Disability Quality Branches, the Regional Offices and any other components to discuss quality issues.