Risk Control and Quality Management in Neurosurgery

Quality in an invasive discipline such as neurosurgery comprises evidence based medicine, cost effectiveness and also risk control. Risk control and quality management have become a science on their own, combining the expertise of many specialists such as psychologists, mathematicians and also economists. Intensive communication with basic safety scientists as well as safety experts from the industry and traffic promises ideas and concepts than can be adopted for neurosurgery. An international conference was held in Munich in October 2000 bringing together neurosurgeons and safety experts from outside medicine in order to discuss basic aspects of risk control and quality management and to develop structures applicable to neurosurgery. Basic aspects such as principles of risk and safety management, the human factor as well as standards of neurosurgical patient care, proficiency of staff and residents, and industrial quality standards were discussed. The presentations and discussions resulted in a wealth of new ideas and concepts. This book contains this material and thus provides a unique and comprehensive source of information on the current possibilities of quality management in neurosurgery.

"... a very valuable reference book for both departmental and institutional libraries ... It should be recommended reading for trainees to understand the principles and the ongoing thought behind many of the practices and control measures that they will encounter and will need to participate in as their experience and seniority advance ... It will be of value to all medical disciplines, since the principles are universal and the terms of reference or yardsticks used are convertible or transferable. It is highly recommended." Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, vol. 73, No. 3/2002