[Quality of care in internal medicine in German psychiatric hospitals].
OBJECTIVE
Study on selected aspects of structural quality of care in internal medicine in German psychiatric hospitals.


METHODS
Investigation by questionnaire completed by medical directors of German psychiatric hospitals (response quote 48.8 %).


RESULTS
Descriptive data from 81 hospitals with 25 920 inpatient beds are presented relating to various indicators of structural quality of care in internal medicine (e. g. availability of internal medicine consultations, diagnostic equipment, as ECG, clinical chemistry laboratory, ultrasound).


CONCLUSIONS
We found evidence of a satisfactory infrastructure relating to internal medicine in a majority of hospitals. However, there exist also indications of significant deficits pertaining to certain aspects of medical care in the institutions investigated. With regard to the importance of medical comorbidity in clinical psychiatry the availability of adequate resources in internal medicine is a relevant indicator of quality of care in psychiatric hospitals.
Hewer
Walter
W
Abteilung Gerontopsychiatrie und -psychotherapie Vinzenz von Paul Hospital, Rottweil. w.hewer@VvPH.de
Salize
Hans-Joachim
HJ
Wolfersdorf
Manfred
M
D015897:Comorbidity; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000592:standards; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000592:standards; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards