[Quality management and certification. Optimizing hospital procedures].

The role of quality programs and criteria for performance excellence in hospitals is evolving. This gets even more important with the implementation of DRG systems. A future match of DRG compensations to documented quality standards cannot be ruled out. However, a clear cut definition of "health care quality" does not exist. Different systems of quality assessment are in use (ISO, EFQM, KTQ, JCAHO) and may help hospitals to define and document their quality standards.