Quality assurance in haemato-oncology specialist practices

• Published in: Der Onkologe Vol. 27; no. 10; pp. 1004 - 1010
• Main Authors: Hermes-Moll, Kerstin, Walawgo, Thomas, Osburg, Sandra, Heidt, Vitali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 2021
• Subjects: Outpatients; Networking; Certification; Neoplasms; Quality management
• ISSN: 0947-8965
• DOI: 10.1007/s00761-021-01006-6

The regularly published quality reports of the haemato-oncology specialist practices primarily include billing data and results of patient and staff surveys as well as current project-related results. In order to obtain further information on structural quality, an additional survey was conducted among haemato-oncology practices.
The goals are the analysis and presentation of structural quality characteristics of haemato-oncology specialist practices.
We performed an online survey of practices with at least one member in the Professional Association of Office-based Haematologists and Oncologists in Germany in 2019 on practice characteristics, professional policy issues, quality management, and networking.
Of 372 practices contacted, 130 participated in the structural data survey (35%). Regarding the topics of quality management and networking, the data show that more than 60% of the practices have a certified quality management system. Almost all practices (94%) are contracted to at least one certified centre and regularly participate in tumour conferences (98%). Furthermore, 77% of the practices participate in clinical trials.
The results of the 2019 structural data survey provide insights into quality characteristics of haemato-oncology specialist practices and demonstrate a strong cross-sector networking of these practices in Germany.