Certification of care facilities and nursing services as a criterion for quality of care

Introduction: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of a certification system for care facilities and nursing services, based on the quality of care. Method: The study is based on care facilities and nursing services in Lower Saxony, which were surveyed by the health insurance services in the years 2004, 2005 and in the first six months of 2006. The relationship between certification of the quality of management and high-grade care was judged on the basis of nine care situations. The data were evaluated quantitatively by statistical methods. Results: The professional handling in just one care situation concerning geronto-psychiatric disorders was related to the state certification of a nursing service or a care facility. The care facilities and nursing services without a certificate managed this care situation more competently than the certificated ones. Conclusion: A certificate does not guarantee excellence of quality of care but it certifies the underlying conditions. Each care facility or nursing service remains responsible for linking the certificate to an increase in the quality of care.