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The concept of the certification system of the German Cancer Society and its impact on gynecological cancer care

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Abstract

Purpose

This article describes the status of gynecological cancer care in Germany and gives an overview of the certification of gynecological cancer care by the German Cancer Society (Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft DKG). The DKG certifies cancer centers to promote a high-quality level in the treatment of oncological patients.

Methods

Searches were conducted in PubMed and ScienceDirect to identify the relevant literature. Catalog of requirements for centers certification as well as benchmark reports were used to characterize cancer care in centers certified by DKG.

Results and conclusions

The certification system of the DKG has been developed to ensure comprehensive care for cancer patients in Germany. The criteria for certification are based on interdisciplinary and inter-professional care conforming to guidelines and specialist expertise. These requirements have been shown to improve structural and process quality, and thus satisfaction and health outcomes in patients.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the members of the certification commission of the gynecological cancer centers for their valuable contribution to the certification system: Bernd Alt-Epping, Mainrad Beer, Manfred Dietel, Andreas du Bois, Günter Emons, Marion Gebhardt, Ullrich Graeven, Bernd Hamm, Peer Hantschmann, Annette Hasenburg, Susanna Hegewisch-Becker, Volker Heinemann, Peter Hillemanns, Dieter Hölzel, Lars-Christian Horn, Rainer Kimmig, Oliver Kölbl, Jörg Kotzerke, Susanne Krege, Hans Kreipe, Volkmar Küppers, Peter Mallmann, Simone Marnitz-Schulze, Lars Meyer, Stefan Müller, Carsten Münstedt, Olaf Ortmann, Pompiliu Piso, Jens Quaas, Katrin Reuter, Ingo Runnebaum, Dieter Schmidt, H.G. Schnürch, Uwe Ulrich, Birgitt van Oorschot, Dirk Vordermark, Uwe Wagner, Diethelm Wallwiener, Ilse Weis, Joachim Weis, Isolde Weisse, Sophie Wetzel, Wolfgang Zieger and Marek Zygmunt.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft e. V., Kuno-Fischer-Straße 8, 14057, Berlin, Germany

    Simone Wesselmann & A. Winter

  2. Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Maximiliansplatz 2, 91054, Erlangen, Germany

    M. W. Beckmann

Authors
  1. Simone Wesselmann
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  2. M. W. Beckmann
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  3. A. Winter
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Correspondence to Simone Wesselmann.

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Wesselmann, S., Beckmann, M.W. & Winter, A. The concept of the certification system of the German Cancer Society and its impact on gynecological cancer care. Arch Gynecol Obstet 289, 7–12 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-013-3084-5

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