Risk Management and Quality Management - An Integrated Approach for Inpatient Health Care

Aim: Many hospitals even if they operate a risk management usually separate it from the quality management. In this work we want to elucidate how a uniform and comprehensive risk and quality management system, which is orientated on the working processes, can be implemented in clinical use. Method: Firstly this paper describes the quality management and the risk management separately. The basic approaches for the integration of a quality management into a risk management are explained subsequently. A practical example illustrates how an integrated risk and quality management as an integrated approach can be built up and realised. Results: The preceding risk management is the basis for an efficient quality management as the quality management functions upon the identification of risks. For that reason, both systems should not be operated separately but rather as a comprehensive system as a so-called "process-oriented and integrated risk-quality-management". Due to the integrated approach synergy effects can be used. Conclusion: Through the implementation of an integrated risk and quality management the main objectives, patient-oriented increased performance and cost reduction, should be addressed. In case of successful implementation, an integrated risk and quality management can become a standard tool for the management of German hospitals.