[Trend of quality of hospital care in German hospitals between 2008 and 2011: a study from national quality assurance data].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: According to § 137 social code book (SGB) V, data from the national quality assurance are published annually. Objective of this study was to analyse the long-term development of the quality of hospital care.
METHODS: On the basis of national data and results of another study covering the years 2004-2008, quality indicators with comparable results of at least 3 subsequent years were included. 292 quality indicators of 26 service groups and 14 medical fields were included. We identified a trend with linear regression and continuous change.
RESULTS: 95 % of the performance measures showed either an improvement of quality (105 measures, 36 %) or a stable condition (173 measures, 59 %). Five percent of the quality indicators (14 measures) showed a deterioration. Eleven of the 14 measures assessed quality in coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention.
CONCLUSION: Evaluated with performance measures from the national quality assurance, the quality of hospital care improved from 2008-2011, as already from 2004-2008. The deterioration of quality in 5 % of measures shows the need for action in particular situations of care. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.