A survey was conducted in 32 facilities to determine the types and sources of information used in care review in order to develop a meaningful minimum data set for quality assurance purposes. The adequacy of medical record information for review and the feasibility of automating it depended on the nature of the review task. While advances in technology may assist in structuring the documentation of care to make reviews more feasible, it is essential that the field of psychiatry clarify the clinical decision process in order for effective review to take place.