[Communication of psychiatric hospitals' specialization].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze whether specialization of psychiatric hospitals results in quality improvement, and whether it can and should be measured and communicated to patients and ambulatory care physicians.


METHODS
Depth interviews with key deciders in the German psychiatric care system.


RESULTS
There are several specializations within the system of psychiatric hospital care which can be communicated to patients and physicians; this would facilitate choice of hospital. There is no national database available yet.


CONCLUSIONS
Data collection and communication as provided by an independent organization would improve knowledge about hospital specialization.
Thielscher
Christian
C
FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie und Management, Essen, Germany. christian.thielscher@fom.de
Kox
Andreas
A
Schütte
Michael
M
D003142:Communication; D005858:Germany; D006302:Health Services Research; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013038:Specialization