Dutch hospitals provide reliable "one click" patient information using a Quality Window.

Abstract

In 2014, the Dutch Association of Hospitals (Nederlandse Vereniging van Ziekenhuizen, NVZ) launched the "Quality Window" at general hospitals across the Netherlands. The Quality Window is an online platform for patients which shares a hospital's current and previous scores on ten quality indicators, from patient experience to employee satisfaction. The Quality Window therefore responds to the growing demand for information and transparency when it comes to hospital care and performance. Not only can patients access helpful information about a hospital's quality through the Quality Window, they can also compare results with other hospitals, the national average, and more. Many hospitals also take the opportunity to expand on how indicators work in practice and the actions being taken towards improvement. The Quality Window was developed with the help of hospitals and patients. Over the coming years it will be expanded to university hospitals across the country. General hospitals will also begin developing Quality Windows for specific patient groups, such as cancer patients.