[Quality assurance in ENT tumor surgery].
OBJECTIVE
Quality control is of special importance in head and neck oncology since the quality of medical care constitutes a vital parameter for the diseased patient. In contrast to other medical specialties, no quality assurance program for head and neck cancer patients has yet been established in Germany. Therefore, a survey was conducted to assess the quality assurance instruments that are in use today in otorhinolaryngology-head and neck (ORL-HNS) centers.


METHODS
In a nationwide survey, questionnaires were sent out to 146 German ORL-HNS departments (the return rate was 75%).


RESULTS
56% of all departments apply dedicated quality assurance processes, and 38% have appointed a formal quality assurance officer. Interdisciplinary oncological conferences are held in the vast majority of all departments with the participation of radiation oncologists in 86 (78%), medical oncologists in 84 (76%), diagnostic radiologists in 82 (74%), and pathologists in 73 (66%). Morbidity-mortality conferences are held in seven departments (6%). A standardized follow-up of oncological patients is carried out in 95 units (86%), and 53 departments use computer-assisted data bases to organize their follow-up data (48%). A wide variety of documentation systems is in use throughout the country: 78 units (71%) offer formal follow-up to their oncological patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This survey documents a wide-spread interest in quality assurance procedures. Many individual efforts are being undertaken. However, no uniform quality assurance or auditing system is currently in use in Germany nor is a commonly accepted data base available. The ability to offer oncological follow-up within the national social security system is generally considered indispensable for the maintenance of high-quality oncological care in ORL-HNS departments.
Eckel
H E
HE
Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Universität Köln, Josef Stelzmann-Strasse 9, 50924 Köln. hans.eckel@uni-koeln.de
Streppel
M
M
Schmalenbach
K
K
Volling
P
P
Schrappe
M
M
Dietz
A
A
Bootz
F
F
D005858:Germany; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D017749:Total Quality Management
Qualitätssicherung in der HNO-Tumorchirurgie.