[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. The Deming cycle is used as a controlling instrument to realise purposeful and stringent measures in hospitals. Benchmarking only works on a voluntary and confidential basis. This is the most important factor to drive motivation and activities. Benchmarking is changing and optimising the quality of structures, processes and outcome performance. The implementation of an independent external expert as a moderator and methodologist is a successful element of the benchmarking process.