Quality assurance of psychiatric day hospital treatment III. Health care system level

Four psychiatric day units at different hospitals in southern Norway have u sed the same quality control system. The system itself and its benefits for evaluation and estimation of treatment effect for the individual patient a nd for ward management are described in two previous papers. In this paper we compare data from different wards. The comparisons include ward size, nu mber of patients treated, treatment length, cost per treatment, demographic variables, illness course variables, diagnoses, use of medication, ward at mosphere, complications during treatment, treatment results as for symptoms , interpersonal problems, global functioning, and patient satisfaction. Dif ferences between the day units are discussed. It is concluded that the qual ity control system provides' opportunities for highly useful feedback for e ach unit, for realistic estimation of the potential of such treatment, and for psychiatric health care planning.