Becoming a Member

Overview of IQM

IQM is a cross-operator initiative for improving quality in medicine. Its mission is to highlight current areas for improvement in the quality of medical treatment and to implement these improvements through active error management to the benefit of patients. To this end, IQM provides its member hospitals with innovative and user-friendly instruments based on the principles of open communication, a culture of learning and collegial support.

Your benefits as an IQM member:

• Measurement of medical outcome quality based on routine data
• Transparent quality assessments
• Organisation and execution of interdisciplinary and inter-professional peer reviews
• Professional development for chief physicians and nurses to become IQM peers according to the curriculum of the German Medical Association
• Standardised presentation of IQM results
• Support for media and public relations on topics relating to IQM

Requirements for Membership

Who can become a member?

IQM is a registered non-profit association open to all hospital operators who want to further improve the quality of their medical treatment by using the IQM methodology and the IQM network. Private, public, non-profit and university hospitals from Germany and Switzerland can become members. To be eligible, hospitals must bill purely inpatient cases according to DRG.

What types of membership are there?

Hospital operators and their various locations can join IQM as full members. There are also other membership types and options, which can be found in the association’s by-laws. The catalogue of voting rights defines the distribution of voting rights and the voting privileges within the general meeting for each type of membership. Potential members are welcome to contact us directly for further information on these topics.

How much is the membership fee?

The annual membership fee is based on the number of beds and ranges from €1,500 to €7,500. The annual membership fee for a “holding company” is an additional €500. If membership begins in the second half of the year, the annual membership fee is halved. Further details are defined in the dues schedule.

A bilateral agreement is concluded with 3M Health Information Systems (HIS) for the evaluation of the quality indicators. For information about the conditions, please e-mail Werner Einhaus of 3M HIS: weinhaus(at)mmm.com

What is the process for becoming a member?

A potential member contacts the IQM business office. The membership application signed by the institution’s legal representative is submitted in writing to the IQM business office, indicating which group the institution belongs to. The IQM business office will be happy to adapt the membership application to the particulars of the respective hospital. A new member is obliged to provide separate data for each location when applying. The IQM board of directors decides whether to accept the hospital as a member. Membership can be granted at any time within a calendar year and begins with the announcement of the approval by the IQM board of directors, unless another date has been agreed.

Would you like to become a member?

We would be happy to arrange an initial meeting to discuss your membership options. We look forward to your e-mail:

Dr. Claudia Winklmair
Management Board
E-mail: claudia.winklmair(at)initiative-qualitaetsmedizin.de