EQuiP

EQuiP is the European Society for Quality and Safety in European GP/FM.

The aim of EQuiP is to contribute to the achievement of high levels of quality and safety of care for patients in general practice in all European countries. Quality and safety in general practice is a continuous process of planned activities based on performance review and setting of explicit targets for good clinical practice with the aim of improving the actual quality and safety of patient care.

Benefits to General Practice

EQuiP offers a structure for collaboration and exchange of expertise and methodology and also for initiating developmental and research projects on quality improvement and patient safety.

Major developments of EQuiP are the development of instruments for:

• Patient evaluation (EUROPEP),
• Practice accreditation (European Practice Assessment – EPA) and the International Family Practice Maturity Matrix – IFPMM)
• Lifelong Learning (CME/CPD) for GPs on Quality Improvement, funded by the European Commission Leonardo da Vinci project (www.InGPinQI.eu) and
• Patient Empowerment in Chronic Conditions funded by Wonca Europe which will report by 2015, the Anniversary year of Wonca Europe (http://www.equip.woncaeurope.org).

EQuiP delegates participate in working groups on various current topics, culminating in outputs such as key projects above, publications and workshops and symposia at Wonca Europe Conferences.

Membership

EQuiP membership is open to all GPs, GPs in training, educators and researchers in safety and quality in primary care. Equip also offers institutional membership to organisations involved in quality and safety.

Conference and Meeting Structure

EQuiP holds an annual spring conference. The venue rotates among different European countries.

EQuiP also holds a winter meeting where members come together in small working groups dedicated to project work on various quality and safety themes. See http://equip.woncaeurope.org.