Peer Review

Quality assurance through collegial exchange between physicians and nursing staff – across professions, disciplines, operators and countries between all IQM members. 

 

The IQM Peer Review

Possible weak points in the processes, structures and interfaces are analysed based on selected records and discussed in a collegial dialogue between the peer team and the hospital’s chief physicians and nursing staff.

The identified areas for improvement are discussed, and solutions are developed to optimise the quality of medical treatment. The aim is to establish a continuous internal improvement process and an open culture of safety and learning.

IQM peer reviews are:

  • A way to help hospitals help themselves
  • A process wherein colleagues support each other as equals
  • An opportunity for members to learn from each other

Procedure of an IQM Peer Review

  1. 1

    As a first step, the chief physician and their team at the hospital carry out a self-assessment of selected treatment records.

  2. 2

    The peer team then conducts a critical but constructive analysis of the same treatment records on site according to a defined procedure and using uniform criteria.

  3. 3

    The medical record analysis is usually limited to 16 records. Medical and nursing procedures and treatment outcomes are evaluated based on standardised criteria and through the exchange of expert knowledge between peers.

  4. 4

    This is followed by a case discussion between the peers and the treatment team, which forms the core of the peer review. This discussion between equals brings the greatest benefits to the hospital in question. The result of the review is a list of areas for improvement and suggested concrete solutions, for example regarding interdisciplinary interfaces, standards, guidelines, documentation and procedures.

  5. 5

    At the end of the review, the results are discussed together with the medical director and the managing director.

  6. 6

    The proposed solutions are recorded and feed into an action plan by the clinic’s quality management department.

  7. 7

    The responsibility for implementing the proposed solutions lies with the hospital’s chief physician. The hospital’s medical directors and management will assist with and monitor the implementation.