THE HEIDELBERG MODEL OF ACTIVE INTERNAL Q UALITY ASSURANCE IN INPATIENT PSYCHOTHERAPY

In this article, a model of quality assurance for inpatient psychother apy is discussed, which was developed in cooperation between researche rs and clinicians. This model is based on the concept of internal qual ity assurance with external help. The Heidelberg Model of Active Inter nal Quality Assurance has three elements: (1.) a QA-Inventory for rout ine monitoring; (2.) rules for evaluating the outcome of every patient and (3.) a feedback model for communicating the results to the therap ists (quality circles). The focus of this model is the recognition of problematic results. It is mainly these results that will be discussed in our quality circles, where the outcome of treatments from the pers pective of the inventory and of the therapists are discussed. This fee dback model and the quality circles will be explained with three examp les of patients. The Heidelberg Model of Active Internal Quality Assur ance will be seen as the basis of a concept of Quality Assurance, whic h is aimed at assuring and improving the quality and rationality of th e psychotherapeutic service.