Abstract
Ensuring high-quality and safe medical care is a key priority in healthcare systems. The tracer methodology serves as a tool to assess systemic and clinical aspects of care delivery. Objective. To conduct a scientific literature review on the application and effectiveness of the tracer methodology in assessing healthcare quality and patient safety. Methods. A structured search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Articles were selected based on relevance to tracer use in audits, accreditation, and internal quality control. A total of 60 studies were included and analyzed. Results. The tracer method has demonstrated high applicability in healthcare quality audits, revealing systemic gaps, enhancing staff communication, improving patient satisfaction, and supporting professional development. It is utilized by international organizations such as JCI and Accreditation Canada, and is increasingly implemented in Kazakhstan's healthcare system. Conclusion. Tracer methodology is a valuable tool for internal quality assessment and should be more broadly adopted. Further studies are recommended to standardize approaches and explore integration across various healthcare systems.