Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2006; 54(5): 360-361
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924266
Letter to the Editor

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Umsetzung des Strukturpapiers für die Behandlung von Patienten mit angeborenen Herzfehlern in Deutschland

Thorac Cardiov Surg 2006; 54: 73 - 77C. Schreiber1 , R. Lange1
  • 1Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich at the Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received May 3, 2006

Publication Date:
10 August 2006 (online)

Abstract

To the Editor

The German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (GSTCVS) regards 250 operations on patients with congenital heart disease per institution as an optimal number (Thorac Cardiov Surg 2006; 54: 73 - 77). In addition, all German institutions ought to participate unequivocally on data transfer to the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery.

However, these “optimal German structures” need to be translated into action now. It will have to be the GSTCVS to ask for a hearing at the Federal Joint Committee (G‐BA) (www.g-ba.de). This medical self-governing body, formed from the national associations of doctors and dentists, the German Hospital Federation and the health insurance funds, gives concrete definition to the legal requirements and implements them. Recently, the Federal Joint Committee released concrete measures for the care of newborns (Press release 21. 9. 2005, § 91 Abs. 7 SGB V). The obvious thing to do now would be considering measures for care of patients with congenital heart disease.

We conclude, that whereas treatment and results should be further improved by quality control and quality transparency, structures of institutions involved in the care of patients with congenital heart disease can only be implemented by the Federal Joint Committee.

PD Dr. Christian Schreiber

German Heart Center Munich

Lazarettstraße 36

80636 Munich

Germany

Email: schreiber@dhm.mhn.de