[Quality assurance in inpatient psychosomatic treatment and rehabilitation]

In addition to the requirements of quality management imposed by legislative and in consideration of research projects on the evaluation of psychotherapy the German pension funds introduced a systematic program for quality control in 1994. By the end of this year all the German rehabilitation centers will regularly have to provide information concerning the structure and concepts of the hospital and details of the rehabilitation programs. All therapeutic interventions are listed for every patient. In a subsample of patients detailed information regarding diagnosis and outcome (goal attainment) is required in addition to the final report. A subsample of the final reports is peer-reviewed. Patient's satisfaction and estimation of outcome variables are regularly assessed 3 months after discharge. Within and between institutions quality circles meet regularly. Advantages and limits of these programs are discussed and additional approaches towards total quality management in Bad Kreuznach are described.