Quality assurance for care of melanoma patients based on guideline-derived quality indicators and certification.

Background And Objectives: In 2013 the first German S-3 guidelines on the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of melanoma were published in the framework of the German Guideline Program on Oncology. Quality indicators were developed at the same time as the guideline development process in order to implement the guideline recommendations.

Patients And Methods: A multidisciplinary, interprofessional working group developed quality indicators following a standardized process.

Malignant melanoma S3-guideline "diagnosis, therapy and follow-up of melanoma".

This first German evidence-based guideline for cutaneous melanoma was developed under the auspices of the German Dermatological Society (DDG) and the Dermatologic Cooperative Oncology Group (DeCOG) and funded by the German Guideline Program in Oncology. The recommendations are based on a systematic literature search, and on the consensus of 32 medical societies, working groups and patient representatives. This guideline contains recommendations concerning diagnosis, therapy and follow-up of melanoma.