[The appropriateness of hospital admissions: reflections for a global approach]

In accordance with a recent definition, appropriateness of medical care is a diagnostic-therapeutic intervention with a correct use of resources and competency, and a procedure that satisfies the request of patients. This definition considers not only the risk/benefit relationship but also the interaction between costs and benefits. In this light, the concept of appropriateness needs a global approach. The identification of the Mission and Vision of the structure, the use of medical guidelines, the distribution of documents which inform patients on the procedures carried out in the hospital and the modalities of access to the structure, the implementation of procedures which define hospital admission and finally the random check of medical records could represent important steps to implement a quality system aimed at guaranteeing the appropriateness of hospital admissions in accordance with the international standards for total quality management ISO 9000.