Abstract
Purpose
In order to improve the quality of treatment for cancer patients the German Cancer Society (Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft) implemented a certification system for oncological care institutions. The certified colorectal cancer centers present the structures, processes and results of their network in the framework of an auditing procedure.
Methods
The current benchmarking report by the certified centers reflects the centers’ reference results over a period of 3 years. The figures included in the benchmarking report reflect the areas of interdisciplinary collaboration, guideline-compliant treatment, and expertise of the main treatment partners.
Results
High percentages were shown for indicators reflecting pretreatment and postoperative case presentations in multidisciplinary team meetings (91.8 % or 98.1 %), psycho-oncologic care (54.8 %) as well as social service counseling (77.1 %). Good quality of the TME rectal specimen and adequate lymph-node retrieval (12 lymph nodes at least) was achieved by 93 % or 96.6 % of the centers. Adjuvant chemotherapy (colon, Union for International Cancer Control [UICC] stage III) or neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy (rectum, UICC stages II and III) received 73.7 % or 80 % of relevant patients. Quotas of anastomotic leakage in the colon or rectum were 4.4 % or 7.6 %, whereas postoperative mortality amounted to 2.6 %.
Conclusions
The present analysis of the results, together with the centers’ statements and the auditors’ reports, shows that most of the targets for indicator figures are being better met over the course of time. In addition, however, there is a clear potential for improvement and the centers are verifiably addressing this. A transparent presentation of the quality of care and reflection on and discussion of the results among the treatment partners in the certified network and with the auditors during the certification process may contribute to constant quality improvement in oncological care.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Nationaler Krebsplan. Ziel 5 — Qualitätssicherung, Zertifizierung onkologischer Behandlungseinrichtungen. Available at: http://www.bmg.bund.de/praevention/nationaler-krebsplan/was-haben-wir-bisher-erreicht/ziel-5-qualitaetssicherung-zertifizierung-onkologischer-behandlungseinrichtungen.html (accessed December 9, 2013)
Elektronischer Kennzahlenbogen — Darmkrebszentren. Available at: https://www.kennzahlenbogen.de (accessed December 9, 2013)
Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft. Kennzahlenauswertung 2013. Benchmarkingbericht der zertifizierten Darmkrebszentren; OnkoZert. Hinweise Zertifizierung. Available at: http://www.krebsgesellschaft.de/download/dz_benchmarkingbericht-2013-a1_130503_klein.pdf ; http://www.onkozert.de/hinweise_zertifizierung_benchmarking.htm (last accessed: December 9th, 2013)
Erhebungsbogen Darm. http://www.krebsgesellschaft.de/download/eb_darm-d2.2_daten130423.xls; http://www.onkozert.de/darmzentren.htm (last accessed: December 9th, 2013)
XML-OncoBox. Available at: http://www.xml-oncobox.de/ (last accessed: December 9th, 2013)
Leitlinienprogramm Onkologie, S3 LL Kolorektales Karzinom, Version 1.0 (2013). Available at: http://leitlinienprogramm-onkologie.de/uploads/tx_sbdownloader/LL_KRK_Langfassung_OL.pdf (accessed December 9, 2013)
Follmann M, Wesselmann S, Kopp I, Nothacker M Developing guidelines and quality indicators simultaneously: effects on guideline content and implications on the guideline development process. G-I-N Conference 2013
Campbell SM, Braspenning J, Hutchinson A, Marshall M (2002) Research methods used in developing and applying quality indicators in primary care. Qual Saf Health Care 11:358–364
Merkel S, Klossek D, Göhl J, Papadopoulos T, Hohenberger W, Hermanek P (2009) Quality management in rectal carcinoma: what is feasible. Int J Colorectal Dis 24(8):931–942
Schwarzbach M, Hasenberg T, Linke M, Kienle P, Post S, Ronellenfitsch U (2011) Perioperative. quality of care is modulated by process management with clinical pathways for fast-track surgery of the colon. What is feasible. Int J Colorectal Dis 26(12):1567–1575
Leitlinienprogramm Onkologie, S3 LL Interdisziplinäre S3-Leitlinie für die Diagnostik, Therapie und Nachsorge des Mammakarzinoms, Version 3.0 (2012). Available at: http://leitlinienprogramm-onkologie.de/uploads/tx_sbdownloader/S3-Brustkrebs-v2012-OL-Langversion.pdf (accessed December 9, 2013)
Hohenberger W, Merkel S, Hermanek P (2013) Volume and outcome in rectal cancer surgery: the importance of quality management. Int J Colorectal Dis 28(2):197–206
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wesselmann, S., Winter, A., Ferencz, J. et al. Documented quality of care in certified colorectal cancer centers in Germany: German Cancer Society benchmarking report for 2013. Int J Colorectal Dis 29, 511–518 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-014-1842-x
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-014-1842-x