[Structural quality of acute internal medicine rheumatology clinics--Project Group of the Association of Rheumatologic Acute Clinics].

A study group representing the VRA (Association of Rheumatology Clinics in Germany) has worked out the structural quality paper presented here. Five guidelines for structural quality have been established by the VRA and are laid out in this paper. Required space and personnel for implementing these guidelines are considered. A highly competent, multi-disciplinary team must be available to ensure the long-term quality of in-patient treatment of rheumatic patients, the majority of whom are chronically ill and are suffering from chronic pain of varying intensity which restricts their daily activities. The necessity for such in-patient treatment is reflected in a 6-point-questionnaire (draft) adapted to the Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol. Considering the introduction of a flat-rate fee system (DRG-system) the structural quality paper describes the implementation of a specified electronic data processing documentation which is linked to a central hospital information system. According to the concept of benchmarking, the paper takes into account future developments of the German health system. It will be adjusted continuously to changing political guidelines for health services.