Italian Quality Assurance in Mental Health

Abstract

Since the radical changes in Italian mental health law in the 1970s, quality assurance models have gained consensus as the most suitable service assessment tool. In the 1990s, the whole Italian National Health System changed into a corporate model, and an accreditation system was implemented.The Italian Association for Quality and Accreditation in Mental Health (Associazione Italiana per la Qualità e l'Accreditamento in Salute Mentale [QUASM]) was founded in 1984, and since then, it offers consultation and support for Mental Health Departments and Regional Governments to help them to develop psychiatric programs, self-evaluation, educational programs, and professional peer-model accreditation. The QUASM accreditation manual has now gone through several revisions, the last in 2008. Until 2008, QUASM was successful in promoting quality and facilitating both institutional and professional accreditation. However, radical changes triggered by financial crisis have jeopardized quality assurance implementation. Nowadays, the challenge for QUASM is to maintain quality and accreditation geared to excellence against prevailing leveling trends.

European Psychiatric Association (EPA) guidance on quality assurance in mental healthcare

“…of mental health services [79]. In the framework of the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme, several reports have been published dealing with mental healthcare.…”

“…As another example, in Germany, quality assurance in mental healthcare is regulated in the German Social Code Book and the current focus is on developing and establishing quality indicators for mental healthcare [23,33]. In Italy, a quality assurance program is effective, which deals with the accreditation of mental health services [79]. In the framework of the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme, several reports have been published dealing with mental healthcare.…”

Quality of care indicators for schizophrenia: determinants of observed variations among Italian Departments of Mental Health. Results from the ETAS DSM study

“…This study examined the results of the implementation of a set of consensual quality of care indicators based on guidelines for treatment and management of schizophrenia. Our approach implied an active involvement of the staff in a quality improvement process, consistent with existing MBQI models in Italy focused on care processes (Nuti et al 2016) and with institutional accreditation system processes that have been implemented since 1990 when the Italian national health system changed to a corporate model (Rossi et al 2014).…”

“…2016) and with institutional accreditation system processes that have been implemented since 1990 when the Italian national health system changed to a corporate model (Rossi et al . 2014).…”

Community Mental Health in Italy Today

“…A culture and practice of outcome evaluation is also slowly progressing in Italian psychiatry, as it is witnessed by the article by De Santi et al (2014). Complementing it is the qualitative contribution by Rossi et al (2014). Complementing it is the qualitative contribution by Rossi et al (2014).…”