Investitionen in die Qualität und ihre Auswirkungen auf den Unternehmenserfolg ambulanter Pflegedienste

Over the past decade, long-term care providers have had to face mounting requirements in terms of quality and cost-effectiveness as well as several new legislative regulations to improve patient-centred care. The introduction of public quality reports was one major step towards measuring the quality of care. To meet the quality criteria, long-term care providers have enhanced their efforts in quality improvement. Though already subject to strict budgetary constraints, the care services have had to finance these improvements without any additional remuneration. In this context, the study looks into level and scope of investments made by providers in quality improvement. It examines whether long-term care providers have measurably benefited from such quality investments. In the light of a burgeoning need for care coupled with a growing shortage of qualified carers, company growth alone is seen as a sign of success. The thesis comprises three studies focusing on these questions from different angles. First, data from the Federal Office of Statistics are analyzed in terms of the relation between the proportion of trained staff and company growth. Second, quality reports are examined with respect to the correlation between good grades and an increasing number of people in need of care. In a third step, a survey of long-term care providers was conducted to obtain more information about quality management representatives and quality investments. Multivariate regression analysis shows little correlation between quality investment and company growth. No relation could be found between quality investments and customer growth. But the results show significant correlations in terms of attracting professional staff. There is clear evidence that excellent public quality reports and a greater involvement of staff in quality improvement activities enhance a companya s success. Therefore, after the Second Bill to Strengthen Long-Term Care, it is essential to develop measures enabling better pay for nurses and to secure the proportion of trained staff.