[Requirements for the provision of healthcare to socially disadvantaged population groups: evaluation of 10 years of medical care provided to the homeless in Hanover].

In 2007, the German Federal Government introduced a general health insurance obligation, but there are still vulnerable groups such as poor and homeless people without access to medical care. Especially for social fringe groups, a visit to the doctor involves many obstacles. Ten years ago the project "Outreach medical care for homeless people and people threatened by homelessness in Hanover" was established in order to reduce those gaps in healthcare provision.

Maternal near-miss among women with a migrant background in Germany.

Objective: To examine the association between region of origin and severe illness bringing a mother close to death (near-miss).

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Maternity units in Lower Saxony, Germany.

[State-wide follow-up of extremely preterm infants: a model of cross-sectoral quality analysis].

A long-term outcome project for the special high-risk group of extremely preterm (ELBW) infants has been established in the federal state of Lower Saxony, which is unique in Germany. All departments of neonatology and all divisions of paediatric neurology are participating. Since October 2004 children who were born at <28 weeks gestation are examined using a standardised concept at defined follow-up intervals (at the age of 6 months, 2, 5 and 10 years).

[Benchmarking to evaluate the care of patients with cystic fibrosis: an established tool to improve patient care].

Benchmarking, i.e. learning from the best, by means of appropriate and established quality indicators is one of the central management tools to improve patient care in the field of cystic fibrosis in Germany.