Quality Management in Primary Care

Although over 80 percent of health problems are dealt with completely within primary care structures, this sector has made little use of assessment procedures. Some attempts have been made in Europe at the national level; models that can be applied internationally, however, do not yet exist. The „European Practice Assessment“ system has been developed on the basis of an extended review of the international literature on assessment models for primary care, with special attention to the Dutch model of practice visits. The European Practice Assessment has shown itself to be ideally suited for assessment in the field of primary care. Relying on quality indicators that have proven effective internationally, the organization and management of primary health care services can be assessed broadly – the first step towards quality improvement. The European Practice Assessment also allows international comparisons of practice performance, facilitating national and international learning and improvement processes. It can thus assist European policymakers and health care professionals in enhancing transparency and quality.