[KTQ--a project on hospital accreditation]

"KTQ--Cooperation for transparence and quality in hospitals" is a joint project of the German Hospital Federation (DKG), of the Substitute Sickness Funds Associations (VdAK/AEV) and of the German Medical Association (BAK). Further partners are the German Nursing Care Council (DPR) and pro-Cum Cert--an organization of charity hospital owners. Since September 1998 the project is financially supported by the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG). The project is still on an experimental status. The participation will be voluntary for hospitals. The KTQ--Accreditation process consists of a self assessment followed by an external assessment--both on the basis of an identical criteria-catalogue. The accreditation process has to be repeated regularly. Accredited hospitals have to publish their results through a quality-report. Since May 2000 the project is tested by 25 hospitals. It is evaluated under the guidance of a scientific institute (IMI, Tübingen). The KTQ--project will be applicable in routine in 2001.