Why the quality of care in German GP and specialist practices is worse than it could be

What it’s all about

Despite the availability of a best practice standard for practice management, benchmarking analyses show that, on average, German GPs and specialists only implement around half of this validated guideline. This discrepancy has far-reaching negative effects on the quality of patient care.

What the guideline stands for

The best practice standard describes all regulations, instruments and behaviours that are essential in the areas of practice management, from planning, market research, organisation, management, patient care and marketing to controlling, for work that functions smoothly even under changing requirements. The lower the implementation rate, the less efficiently a practice operates. One direct consequence is, for example, a significant lack of time.

Diagnostic and therapeutic problems due to lack of time

Doctors need the results of a careful and comprehensive examination and assessment of a patient’s symptoms and complaints in order to make an accurate diagnosis. This process requires time, attention and a thorough medical history. However, due to a lack of time, physicians interrupt their patients’ symptom descriptions very early on and miss important information that could be crucial. These abbreviations lead to a superficial recording of symptoms and increase the risk of misdiagnosis.

While a correct diagnosis is the first step, the way treatment is prescribed and monitored is equally important. Interruptions and lack of attention due to inefficient work organisation also mean that patients do not receive the explanations and support they actually need.

Inefficient practice processes

The lack of implementation of the best practice standard also results in unclearly defined processes and sub-optimised workflows, which are expressed in unnecessary delays, duplication of work and errors. Among other things, these inefficiencies result in excessive waiting times for patients, which severely affects their satisfaction and trust in the practice. In addition, practice staff suffer from an increased workload and stress, which leads to errors and a higher sickness rate.

Communication problems

Effective communication is also crucial to the quality of patient care. As the best practice guideline is not fully implemented, there is often a lack of clear communication channels and methods. This results in misunderstandings and loss of information between doctors, nursing staff and patients. Important medical information is not passed on in a timely or correct manner, which also has a negative impact on diagnosis and treatment. Patients receive poorer care as a result.

Inadequate controlling and quality management

An essential component of best practice standards is effective controlling and quality management. However, a regular review and analysis of practice performance is often omitted and unsuitable structures, processes and behaviours are therefore documented in quality management but not corrected. The result: practice development and quality of care stagnate. In the long term, this also has a financial impact, as inefficient practices have higher operating costs and lower income due to dissatisfied patients and missed treatment opportunities.

Negative impact on practice image and patient loyalty

Non-compliance with best practice standards also damages a practice’s image. Patients who are dissatisfied with the quality of care share their negative experiences in their social environment and via online review portals. This can lead to a poor reputation for the practice and deter potential new patients. Existing patients look for alternative providers, which leads to a loss of patients and therefore a drop in revenue.

Psychosocial stress on staff

Incomplete implementation of the best practice guideline not only has an impact on patients, but also on the practice team. Inefficient processes and unclear communication channels lead to a higher workload and stress among employees. The working atmosphere deteriorates, there is an increase in cases of illness and higher staff turnover. The mental and physical health of employees is impaired, which in turn has a negative impact on patient care.

Conclusion

The inadequate implementation of best practice standards in German GP and specialist practices has diverse and far-reaching negative effects on the quality of patient care. Inefficient processes, communication problems, lack of patient-orientation, inadequate controlling and psychosocial stress on staff all contribute to a deterioration in patient care. It is therefore crucial to recognise the importance of this standard and strive for its full implementation in order to improve the quality of care and ensure the satisfaction of both patients and the practice team.