[Indicators of process and outcome quality in the context of multicenter quality management in cardiac rehabilitation].

From the point of view of quality management in general and clinic comparisons in particular, indicators of outcome quality must be chosen in such a way that conclusions regarding the quality of rehabilitational care processes can be drawn. Moreover, these indicators should reflect disease characteristics which, on the one hand, are relevant in terms of prognoses and, on the other, provide indications for rehabilitation therapy. Predictors of rehabilitation success need to be differentiated analytically in order to safeguard the adjustment of risks when, for instance, clinics are being compared. Suitable outcome indicators for cardiological rehabilitation are LDL-cholesterol and functional-physiological capacities. Taking low-density lipoprotein (LDL) as an example, a well-tested approach to applying the results of studies, in this case those of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Outcome (CARO) study, to internal and external quality management is shown. The way in which information is provided by a quality information system is explained. The scheme is to be expanded into a routine monitoring system with the aid of a nation-wide follow-up study (CARO-II). The studies are being supported by the DGPR cardiological society.