[Quality Association for Acute Stroke Treatment Schleswig-Holstein (QugSS)].

The Quality Association for Acute Stroke Treatment Schleswig-Holstein (QugSS) continues a project which was conducted from 2004 to 2007 as part of a benchmarking programme funded by the German Health Ministry. The implementation of the benchmarking programme in 15 hospitals was intended to improve patient-related outcomes of the inpatient treatment of acute stroke. Regular reports to the Quality Association are complemented by quarterly meetings of the association members to compare and discuss the results of the participating hospitals. Quality indicators developed by the German Stroke Registries Study Group (ADSR) are used. In addition, the meetings serve as a platform for mutual exchange in the form of further training. Between April 2005 and December 2010 approx. 18,000 cases (mean age: 71.9±12.8 years/M±SD, 48.7% females) were documented. From 2008 to 2010, nine out of 12 process indicators improved significantly. Values above the pre-defined target level of the quality indicators were significantly achieved by five indicators (p<.05), almost achieved by three indicators (not significant), and were significantly failed by four indicators.