[The Good Medical Department. Results from a national survey of quality in 1998]. / Den gode medicinske afdeling. Resultater fra en national undersøgelse af kvalitet i 1998.

INTRODUCTION: This cross-sectional study describes quality related data from 39 medical wards in Denmark. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study is based on a review of 1517 medical records and a short patient interview. The medical departments took part voluntarily in the study, which was initiated by the Danish Society for Internal Medicine. RESULTS: A total of 23 quality-related indicators related to the planning of the treatment, documentation in patient records, and care were registered. The day before the data collection was an inactive inpatient day for 22.8 +/- 1.1% of patients. Allergy was insufficiently documented in the medical record for 18.8 +/- 1.0% of patients. Weight was not documented in 48.8 +/- 1.3% of patients. Considerations about anticoagulation treatment of atrial fibrillation were not documented in 50.1 +/- 3.6% of patients with atrial fibrillation. DISCUSSION: This study indicates that it is possible on a voluntary basis to collect and distribute quality-related data. The survey has recently been repeated with a modified data registration sheet.