Quality Criteria
Our quality promise
Every specialist listed on Leading Medicine Guide meets binding quality criteria. Open “General criteria” or choose a medical field for the field-specific requirements.
General quality criteria
- At least 10 years of surgical and treatment experience
- Mastery of the latest diagnostic and surgical procedures
- Outstanding treatment focus within their own field
- Member of a leading national professional society
- Leading professional position
- Active participation in professional events (e.g. lectures)
- Active in research and teaching
- Evaluated quality management (e.g. certification)
Angiology
The quality criteria for the Angiology subspecialty can be found here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Number of months completed in internal medicine and angiology (24 of which must be in inpatient care) | At least 36 months | |
| Number of months completed in at least 2 other subspecialties within the field | At least 24 months | |
| Number of months completed in the emergency department | At least 6 months | |
| Number of months spent in intensive care | At least 6 months |
Bariatric Surgery
The quality criteria for the obesity surgery specialty can be found here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Laparoscopic gastric bypass | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Sleeve Gastrectomy | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Weight Loss - Weight Reduction Measures | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Gastric balloon | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Gastric bypass | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Gastric reduction | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Endobarrier | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Gastric band | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Gastric plication | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Gastric pacemaker | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Biliopancreatic diversion | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Roux-en-Y gastric bypass | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Omega-Loop Bypass | Case numbers based on self-reported data |
Biliary Surgery
The quality criteria for the biliary surgery specialty can be found here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Minimally Invasive Biliary Surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| TULC (Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy) | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Single-port technique in gallbladder surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Cholecystectomy | Case numbers based on self-reported data |
Cardiology
You can find the quality criteria for the cardiology specialty here. The number of cases is published transparently by members on their respective profiles.
| Board Certification | Yes | |
| Balloon Catheter Angioplasty (PTA) | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Stent implantation | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Anticoagulation | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Cardioversion | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Catheter ablation | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| PTCA | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| TASH treatment | Case numbers based on self-reported data |
Elbow Replacement Surgery
The quality criteria for the Elbow Arthroplasty specialization can be found here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Course hours in the expert module | At least 60 | |
| surgeries | At least 250 | |
| Shoulder or elbow prostheses (ESPR system) | At least 30 |
Elbow Surgery
The quality criteria for the Elbow Surgery specialization can be found here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Course hours in the expert module | At least 60 | |
| surgeries | At least 250 |
Foot Surgery and Ankle Surgery
The quality criteria for the specialization in foot and ankle surgery can be found here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Member of a specialized medical society (e.g., GFFC, DAF) |
Yes | |
| Points awarded for expert courses | At least 8 | |
| Foot surgeries performed in the last 2 years | At least 200 | |
| reconstructive foot surgeries | At least 70% | |
| rearfoot procedures | At least 50 |
Gastroenterology
You can find the quality criteria for the gastroenterology specialty here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Nutritional Medicine | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography (PTC) | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Capsule endoscopy | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| ERCP and papillotomy | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| PEG tube | Case numbers based on self-reported data |
General ENT
The quality criteria for the ENT specialty can be found here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Ear Correction | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Snoring Treatment | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Laryngectomy | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Sinus surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Nose surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Implantable hearing aids | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Rhinology | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Salivary Gland Surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Tympanoplasty | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Phoniatrics | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Cochlear Implant | Case numbers based on self-reported data |
Gynecologic Oncology
The quality criteria for the gynecologic oncology specialty can be found here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Breast Cancer Treatment | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Breast Cancer Surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data |
Hand Surgery
The quality criteria for the hand surgery specialty can be found here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Membership in the German Society for Hand Surgery (DGH) | Yes | |
| Holds the additional specialty designation in hand surgery | Yes | |
| Participation in DGH continuing education seminars | At least 6 | |
| At least one presentation on hand surgery at a DGH annual conference or continuing education seminar | Yes | |
| Number of days of full-time observation (24 hours total) in the practice or at the clinic of a DGH-certified expert in hand surgery | At least 3 days | |
| Number of practical courses recognized by the DGH Certification Commission for this purpose, totaling 24 hours in duration | At least 2 |
Hernia Surgery
You can find the quality criteria for the hernia surgery specialty here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Hernia surgeries per year | At least 30 | |
| Inguinal hernia reoperation rate | At least below 2% | |
| Incision hernia reoperation rate | At least below 10% | |
| Follow-up rate | At least over 70% | |
| Infection rate for laparoscopic incisional hernias | At least less than 3% | |
| Overall complication rate for inguinal hernias | At least below 5% | |
| Infection rate for incisional hernias treated with open surgery | At least below 10% | |
| Continuing education credits per year | At least 16 | |
| Certification valid until | Date | |
| Participation in morbidity conference | Yes | |
| Pain management | Yes | |
| Herniamed Documentation | Yes | |
| Ultrasound examination | Yes | |
| Postoperative pain intensity assessment | Yes |
|
| Patient consultation hours | Yes | |
| Outpatient surgery | Yes | |
| Guidelines for the Treatment of Bilateral Inguinal Hernias | Yes | |
| Evidence of one-year follow-up | Yes |
Hip Replacement Surgery
The quality criteria for the hip replacement specialization can be found here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Joint Replacement Procedures | At least 100 | |
| Elective bicondylar knee replacements | At least 50 | |
| Hip replacements | At least 50 | |
| Patient documentation | Yes | |
| At least 2 lead surgeons | Yes | |
| Procedure performed only by or with the lead surgeon | Yes | |
| Quality Management Officer | Yes | |
| Proof of continuing education | Yes | |
| Continuing Education Courses for Lead Surgeon | At least 3 | |
| Periprosthetic infection (primary endoprosthetics) | At least less than 3% | |
| Periprosthetic infection (fracture endoprosthetics) | At least less than 4% | |
| Waiting time requirements for office visits, in hours | At least less than 60 hours | |
| Certification valid until | Date |
Hip Surgery
You can find the quality criteria for the hip surgery specialty here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Number of hip and pelvic surgeries | At least 750 | |
| Hip joint replacement / endoprosthetics (300 surgeries) | At least 300 | |
| Hip surgery to preserve the joint (number of surgeries) | At least 150 | |
| Traumatology of the pelvis and hip (150 surgeries) | At least 150 | |
| Surgical treatment of hip infections (50 surgeries) | At least 50 | |
| Certificate of Completion: Joint-Preserving Hip Surgery | Yes | |
| Certificate of completion in hip joint replacement / endoprosthetics | Yes | |
| Course Certificate in Septic Hip Surgery | Yes | |
| Course Certificate in Pelvic and Hip Traumatology | Yes | |
| Course Certificate: 5th Course from Various Specialties | Yes | |
| Certificate in Structural Quality | Yes | |
| Continuing education credits for the hip specialization over 5 years | At least 30 | |
| Continuing education credits from state medical boards in total over 5 years | At least 250 |
Intervertebral Disc Replacement
The quality criteria for the specialty of intervertebral disc replacement can be found here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Intervertebral Disc Endoprosthetics | Case numbers based on self-reported data |
Intestinal Surgery
You can find the quality criteria for the colorectal surgery specialty here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Ulcerative Colitis Surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Intestinal Resection | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Colorectal Surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Rectal surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Palliative Care for Colon Cancer | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Colon Cancer Surgeries | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Colon surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Colostomy | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Minimally Invasive Bowel Surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Vagotomy | Case numbers based on self-reported data |
Knee Surgery
You can find the quality criteria for the knee surgery specialty here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Surgeries of higher severity performed personally | At least 500 | |
| Participation in at least one annual conference | Yes | |
| Module 1 “Sports Orthopedics” | Yes | |
| Module 2: “Congenital and Acquired Deformities” | Yes | |
| Module 3 “Endoprosthetics” |
Yes | |
| Module 4: “Traumatology” | Yes | |
| Module 5: “Rehabilitation and Conservative Therapy” | Yes | |
| Module 6: “The Knee During Growth and Tumors” | Yes |
Pediatric Orthopedics
You can find the quality criteria for the pediatric orthopedics specialty here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Board Certification | Yes |
Thyroid surgery
The quality criteria for specializing in thyroid surgery can be found here. Members publish their case numbers transparently on their respective profiles.
| Endocrine surgery | Case numbers | mind. 100 |
| Thyroid surgery | Case numbers | mind. 50 |
| Parathyroid gland surgery | Case numbers | mind. 5000 |
Vascular Surgery
The quality criteria for the vascular surgery specialty can be found here. The number of cases is transparently published by members on their respective profiles.
| Balloon Catheter Angioplasty (PTA) | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Carotid PTA | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Stent implantation | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Aortic surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Aneurysm surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Aortic stent | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Endovascular therapy | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Peeling plasty | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Vascular surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Venous sclerotherapy | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Dialysis Shunt Placement | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Stripping | Case numbers based on self-reported data | |
| Thrombectomy | Case numbers based on self-reported data |
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| Shunt | Case numbers based on self-reported data |
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| Aortic valve reconstruction | Case numbers based on self-reported data |
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| Carotid surgery | Case numbers based on self-reported data |