[An example of internet-based quality assurance in rheumatology].
In Germany, patient care and medical progress have become increasingly influenced by quality assurance and quality management and also by a rapid increase in knowledge and information. Thus, modern information management achieves high relevance in medicine, too. The internet provides a fascinating medium with its open architecture and interaction possibilities offering new, trailblazing perspectives. This article shows examples of the current use of the internet for quality assurance at the RheumaNet, which functions as a presentation platform for the competence network for systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases ('KN-Rheuma') in Germany. The RheumaNet has already contributed to achieving quality assurance by supplying extensive, valuable and reliable scientific information. Other innovative interactive and quality assuring applications have been developed, tested and implemented in the system. Future applications will deal with standardised online documentation modules, and aids for patient self-management are on their way.
Richter
Jutta G
JG
Rheumazentrum Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf. richter@rheumanet.org
Specker
Christof
C
Becker
Arnd
A
Arendt
Dietrun
D
Monser
Robert
R
von Knop
Jan
J
Schneider
Matthias
M
D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000592:standards*