Quality is taken very seriously in the German healthcare system, and this is no less true in Berlin. Hospitals are legally required to guarantee and document the quality of the medical services they provide. Specific quality indicators are defined for numerous areas. Hospitals have a legal obligation to submit structured quality reports each year, which are generally available to patients online. One quality assurance measure is that hospitals are only allowed to offer treatments of which they perform a minimum number per year. This ensures that they have the necessary expertise.
German quality regulations also include strict rules governing hospital hygiene practices. This is intended to curb the spread of multi-drug resistant bacteria (e.g. MRSA, ESBL), thereby protecting patients from life-threatening infections. Hygiene regulations may include extensive examinations of patients upon admission. Strict regulations may apply to visitors if there is any suspicion of germs. If the suspicion is confirmed, patients are treated on quarantine wards so as to protect other patients from infection.
Thanks to such intensive quality assurance measures, the standards of healthcare in Germany are very high. To further improve medical care, numerous initiatives are in place to promote active error management. Renowned hospitals play a leading role in the quality committees by setting a good example themselves.