| Abstract: | The article describes a quality assurance system for psychotherapeutic day units. The system was developed through a collaboration between different day units at different hospitals in Norway and the University Institute at the Department of Psychiatry, Ullevål Hospital, Oslo. The system consists of a series of tests, schemes, and procedures, which are processed by a software program. The system is described through a presentation of routine data from the treatment of a single patient: application procedures, patient preparation, waiting list, procedures for evaluation at intake, discharge, and 1-year follow up, postdischarge treatment, and so forth. The system provides good documentation of crucial elements in psychiatric treatment and assures the patient and referral agencies that these elements are carried through in accordance with high quality demands. The staff perceives the system as highly useful for clinical purposes. The system presupposes secretary assistance and user support. |
