[Treat-to-target (T2T) from the perspective of inpatient rheumatology].

Publication of the treat-to-target (T2T) concept at the end of the Bone and Joint Decade almost coincided with the 15 treatment recommendations of the EULAR as well as with the new classification and revised remission criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).The treat-to-target initiative is solely focused on the description of benchmarks for an effective treatment management of RA to reach its priority target of remission.From the perspective of inpatient rheumatology parallels are shown to the quality projects of the Association of Rheumatology Clinics (VRA), which were initiated in 2001 for the first time.The quality management started up by the VRA not only benefited from the development of the German diagnosis-related groups (G-DRG) system which was also supported by the VRA and the German Society of Rheumatology (DGRh) but also from projects realized to improve the structural and operational quality in inpatient rheumatology units.By launching its own outcome benchmarking project (OBRA) in 2003, which was financially supported by the German Ministry of Health and its continuation with Kobra-1 and future Kobra-2, the VRA already successfully incorporated all benchmarks of management guidelines outlined in the T2T initiative.By steadily improving the outcome, even of RA patients, inpatient rheumatology offers a special quality project for participating clinics who are otherwise competitors, not only to learn from each other but to support each other to find the best way (T2T) to reach a remission and a good quality of life for RA patients and patients with other systemic rheumatic diseases.