Paediatric rehabilitation treatment standards: a method for quality assurance in Germany

  • Jutta Ahnert
    Division of Medical Psychology, Medical Sociology, and Rehabilitation Research, University of Würzburg, Germany.
  • Stefan Löffler
    Division of Medical Psychology, Medical Sociology, and Rehabilitation Research, University of Würzburg, Germany.
  • Jochen Müller
    Division of Medical Psychology, Medical Sociology, and Rehabilitation Research, University of Würzburg, Germany.
  • Matthias Lukasczik
    Division of Medical Psychology, Medical Sociology, and Rehabilitation Research, University of Würzburg, Germany.
  • Silke Brüggemann
    German Pension Insurance, Berlin, Germany.
  • Heiner Vogel
    Division of Medical Psychology, Medical Sociology, and Rehabilitation Research, University of Würzburg, Germany.

ABSTRACT

Over the last few years, the German Pension Insurance has implemented a new method of quality assurance for inpatient rehabilitation of children and adolescents diagnosed with bronchial asthma, obesity, or atopic dermatitis: the so-called rehabilitation treatment standards (RTS). They aim at promoting a comprehensive and evidence-based care in rehabilitation. Furthermore, they are intended to make the therapeutic processes in medical rehabilitation as well as potential deficits more transparent. The development of RTS was composed of five phases during which current scientific evidence, expert knowledge, and patient expectations were included. Their core element is the specification of evidence-based treatment modules that describe a good rehabilitation standard for children diagnosed with bronchial asthma, obesity, or atopic dermatitis. Opportunities and limitations of the RTS as a tool for quality assurance are discussed.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Silke Brüggemann, German Pension Insurance, Berlin