title: How to manage external demands in hospitals--the case of atrium MC.
abstract: In all modern healthcare systems, it is difficult for hospitals to keep pace with the increasing number of clinical guidelines. In the Netherlands, this poses a specific problem, as the national quality regulator holds hospital boards responsible for compliance with guidelines. We sought to address this problem by constructing a centralized database of guidelines. Due to the enormous number and the inter-relatedness of the guidelines, this task was larger and more complex than anticipated. This raises questions regarding the feasibility of adhering to external demands and concerning effective management by hospital executive boards of compliance with clinical guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Atrium Medisch Centrum Parkstad, P.O. Box 4446, 6401 CX Heerlen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L H K
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Blume
authors.affiliation: Atrium Medisch Centrum Parkstad, P.O. Box 4446, 6401 CX Heerlen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N J H W
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: van Weert
authors.affiliation: Tilburg School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Tranzo, Scientific Center for Transformation in Care and Welfare, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands. Electronic address: ddelnoij@zinl.nl.
authors.forename: D M J
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Delnoij
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States
keywords: Compliance; External demands; Hospitals; Quality guidelines; Regulation; Requirements