[Implementation of psychosocial care in pediatric cardiology. Results of a national survey]. / Etablierung psycho-sozialer Versorgung in der Pädiatrischen Kardiologie. Ergebnisse einer bundesweiten Befragung.

In the German health care system patient self-help groups assume growing importance. The aim of the umbrella organisation for self help groups in paediatric cardiology (Bundesverband Herzkranker Kinder e.V., BVHK) is to continuously improve comprehensive health care to children with heart diseases and their parents. One of the most important aims of the BVHK is to implement psychosocial services for inpatients. In some recent projects the BVHK has analysed the current structures of psychosocial care in German departments of paediatric cardiology. Existing structures are compared with the optimal standards of psychosocial care. Selected results of these projects are described in this article.