External peer review in Europe: an overview from the ExPeRT project

Objective. This paper aims to evaluate the use and development of external peer review models and to identify where the main models are used in Europe an Union member states and countries with reciprocal research agreements wi th the European Union. Design. The ExPeRT (external peer review techniques) project research team conducted a series of fact-finding missions to all participating European n ations. Study participants. I. Blomberg, Sweden; L. Bohigas, Spain; S. Cuci c, The Netherlands; P. Morosini, Italy. The Project is led by C. Shaw, UK a nd is managed by C. Heaton, CASPE Research. Results. We identified four main external peer review models aimed at measu ring the quality of service management and delivery : health care accredita tion, the International Organization for Standardization ISO 9000 standards , the European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence Model and visit ie, which is Dutch for 'visitation' or peer review-based schemes. Discussion. ExPeRT has demonstrated that in principle, convergence of the f our main models in order to gain From each model's key strengths is feasibl e. Whether convergence is practical, depends upon the willingness of govern ments, health service providers, health care quality professionals and orga nizations to come together and adopt the recommendations of the ExPeRT proj ect.