Euro-Qual: European Orthodontic Reference Book

The objective of the EURO-QUAL programme has been to improve the quality of care for the individual patient. At the same time the need for harmonization of health care in Europe was recognized. This quality improvement system (QIS) for orthodontic care in Europe comprises of "Guidelines for how to implement a QIS" and reference material from the project teams: financial resources, professional development, consumer satisfaction, and industrial cooperation. In this respect the following topics are discussesd: the differences and similarities in local (national) quality initiatives; the use of databases, as a technique to improve quality by comparing one's own performance against that of colleagues; the influence of the different national systems of funding on both the amount of care provided as well as the quality of care; the contents and the quality of the educational programmes, at all levels of orthodontic care; promotion of patients' rights and responsibilities before, during and after the orthodontic treatment; and a common goal and common language with the industrial partners by which the interaction can be optimized and communication will be enriched. This book provides the background information for the appopriate use of the European Orthodontic Quality Manual (EOQM). Strategies for the implementation of a QIS in orthodontics, taking into account the complexity of the outlined aspects, make this book interesting for the orthodontic professional as well as the stakeholders (education, funding, industry and consumers) in orthodontic care.