Authors developed and tested a checklist for the assessment of quality management activities across departments or pathways in acute care hospitals. 

The study involved a sample of 292 hospital departments of 74 acute care hospitals across seven European countries. In every hospital, four departments for the conditions: acute myocardial infarction, stroke, hip fracture, and deliveries participated.

Four measures of quality management activities were evaluated at care pathway level focusing on specialized expertise and responsibility, evidence-based organization of pathways, patient safety strategies, and clinical review.

Findings: Participating departments attained mean values on the various scales between 1.2 and 3.7. The theoretical range was 0-4. Three of the four QM measures are identical for the four conditions, whereas one scale (evidence-based organization of pathways) has condition-specific items. Correlations showed that every factor was related, but also distinct, and added to the overall picture of quality management at pathway level. 

This newly developed checklist can be used across various types of departments and pathways in acute care hospitals.