An integrated quality control programme for veterinarians: a comparison with the quality control programme for general practitioners

The core of the integrated quality control policy of Dutch general practiti oners is the development of treatment guidelines. These guidelines are the basis for assessing interventions and for improving quality. General practi tioners took the intitiative to prepare these guidelines without there brin g external pressure on them to do so. The quality control policy strengthen s the position of this professional group by diminishing differences in the rapeutic approach. The procedures followed for establishing guidelines, suc h as those for human medicine, are described and may be of use to veterinar ians.