[Quality assurance: introduction and legal principles]

Quality assurance has been part of clinical medicine and public health for decades, but only recently have structured and well documented procedures of quality assurance been introduced. Industry has been a model. Since 1. 1. 1989 quality assurance in Germany has been a legal requirement for a wide range of health services. Structure, process and outcome as part of quality assurance is defined as well as criteria, standards and norms. The development of quality assurance in Germany is described. The importance of quality assurance for the efficacy, efficiency and the aim-orientated work of the public health services and for the medical service of the compulsory health insurance is stressed.