Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39780115›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2025

Development of a pandemic-related core set of quality indicators for quality and patient safety in University Hospitals in Germany.

Janis Evers, Natalie Altschuck, Claudia Mehl, Lilly Rüthrich, Lorenz Harst, Felix Walther, Oliver Steidle, Arnt Suckow, Ruth Hecker, Jochen Schmitt and 1 more

Abstract read
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Article in BMC health services research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Janis EversInstitute for Health Services Research and Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany. evers.janis@gmail.com.
Natalie AltschuckInstitute for Health Services Research and Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Claudia MehlInstitute for Health Services Research and Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Lilly RüthrichCenter for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology (TUD), Dresden, Germany.
Lorenz HarstCenter for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology (TUD), Dresden, Germany.
Felix WaltherCenter for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology (TUD), Dresden, Germany.
Oliver SteidleDepartment of Quality and Clinical Risk Management, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Arnt SuckowDepartment of Quality and Clinical Risk Management, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
Ruth HeckerDepartment of Quality and Clinical Risk Management, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Jochen SchmittCenter for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology (TUD), Dresden, Germany.
Max GeraedtsInstitute for Health Services Research and Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.

Funding

German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the Network of University Medicine 2.0: "NUM 2.0" 01KX2121, Project: PREPARED.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic entailed a global health crisis, significantly affecting medical service delivery in Germany as well as elsewhere. While intensive care capacities were overloaded by COVID cases, not only elective cases but also non-COVID cases requiring urgent treatment unexpectedly decreased, potentially leading to a deterioration in health outcomes. However, these developments were only uncovered retrospectively. Especially university hospitals, which were meant to take on a central coordinating role, did not have detailed information on expected healthcare utilization, available resources and capacities, and the quality of medical care. The experience of compromised healthcare and a lack of monitoring during the COVID-19 pandemic made it clear that healthcare systems should be better prepared. Therefore, the aim of this work was to develop a set of indicators suited to detect undesirable developments concerning the provision of inpatient healthcare. MATERIAL &

methodsThe study employed a literature review, online surveys, expert interviews, and a multistep evaluation process to develop a core set of quality indicators (QIs) suitable for assessing the resilience of university hospitals during pandemics. This initial set of indicators was refined through consultations with a) quality and risk management officials from German university hospitals via an online survey and b) a diverse panel of experts.

resultsThe comprehensive evaluation identified two primary strands: organizational/management indicators (Strand A, 60 indicators) and disease-specific clinical quality and patient safety indicators (Strand B, 20 indicators for critical conditions like stroke, myocardial infarction, and cancer.) Three additional indicators were added after a final expert panel meeting, resulting in a final set of 83 indicators. DISCUSSION AND

conclusionThe developed QIs mark a significant advancement in the operational preparedness of university hospitals for pandemics. The study contributes to quality management in healthcare during pandemics by creating the basis for a structured approach to pandemic preparedness and response. This unique set of QIs within the German context presents an opportunity for establishing quality improvement, underscoring the importance of a robust, adaptable quality management framework as a basis for safeguarding against future health crises.

Indexed as

COVID-19Hospitals, UniversityPatient SafetyQuality Indicators, Health CareGermanyHumansPandemicsQuality of Health CareSARS-CoV-2COVID-19Healthcare quality managementPandemicPatient safetyQuality indicatorsUniversity hospitals

Identifiers

PMID39780115
PMCPMC11708090

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.