Application of German Definitions and Quality Standards for Health Resorts for Certification and Legal Acknowledgement of Health Resorts

作者：Gutenbrunner C^*

来源：Physikalische Medizin Rehabilitationsmedizin Kurortmedizin, 2010, 20(6): 303-315.

DOI：10.1055/s-0030-1267176

• definitions and quality standards for health resorts
• certification of health resorts
• legal acknowledgement of health resorts
• modalities of balneotherapy

Problem and Aims: In Germany, definitions and quality standards for health resorts ("Begriffsbestimmungen und Qualitatsstandards fur die Pradikatisierung von Kurorten, Erholungsorten und Heilbrunnen") provide a comprehensive catalogue of criteria for quality of health resorts and modalities of balneotherapy. They are basis of certification and legal acknowledgement of health resorts. However, in practice the use of these criteria cause some problems especially for 2 reasons: 1(st) the definitions and quality standards for health resorts have not been designed as guideline for certification and therefore have other systematic of chapters. 2(nd) the definitions and quality standards for health resorts have been repeatedly revised and updated resulting in some inconsistency and contradictions. Aim of the paper therefore is to provide a new and clear structure for certification and legal acknowledgement of health resorts and treatment modalities and to present it in a structured table.
Methods: Basic principle of the certification is that every health resort has to provide at least one natural treatment modality and additionally has facilities and environment appropriate to treat patients. Both areas have to be proven by suitable analytic methods and scientifically assessed regarding its usefulness for prevention, therapy and rehabilitation.
Results: The resulting structured table for certification and legal acknowledgement of health resorts fully fulfils the criteria given in the German definitions and quality standards for health resorts. For treatment modalities in balneotherapy criteria are chemical composition and physical properties, effects, indications and contraindications, hygienic aspects, classification, and range of variability of composition. For health resorts they additionally are: appropriate bioclimatic conditions, good air quality, general and specific facilities for treatment (including appropriate environment), environment protection policy, and certification of indications and contraindications for treatment and rehabilitation in the specific health resort.
Discussion: The structured table for certification and legal acknowledgement of health resorts shows that the German definitions and quality standards for health resorts may be structured in a systematic way and therefore are suitable for the certification procedure. The usefulness of the table has been proven to be useful in practice or legal acknowledgement of health resorts in the German state of Lower Saxony.

• 出版日期2010-12