International comparison of minimum volume standards for hospitals

Abstract

Introduction: Minimum volume standards have been implemented in various countries for quality or safety policies. We present minimum volume standards in an international comparison, focusing on regulatory approaches, selected sets of procedures and thresholds as well as predetermined consequences of non-compliance.

Materials and methods: We combined a comprehensive literature search in electronic databases in March 2016 with a hand-search of governmental and related organisations' webpages. We also contacted international experts to verify the information we found in the literature and to obtain additional data.

Results: Minimum volume standards have been introduced in different countries predominantly for highly specialized surgical procedures. The same evidence has led to different definitions and ways of implementation of minimum volume standards in Germany, Canada (Ontario), the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Austria. The regulatory approaches to minimum volume standards and the predetermined consequences of non-compliance differ across the countries.

Conclusion: The sets of procedures for which minimum volume standards and corresponding thresholds have been introduced vary across countries, possibly due to different regulatory approaches. In addition, key attributes of the health care system might affect the development and implementation of minimum volume standards. Therefore, it is not feasible to formulate uniform recommendations that are applicable to all countries. Our results provide a comprehensive overview of international minimum volume standards and can be used to inform policy decisions.

Keywords: Government regulation; Health policy; Hospitals, high-volume; Minimum volume standards; Specialization.