Results: QMS have been implemented in 63.9 per cent of the Lithuanian general hospitals. This system is currently under implementation in 22.2 per cent of the hospitals mentioned, and no QMS have been implemented so far in 13.9 per cent of the Lithuanian general hospitals. More than one third of institutions have implemented the ISO standard. Institutions wich have alredy implemented the QMS enjoy higer patient satisfaction (accordingly 5,36 (1,05) and 4,18 (2,14)), improved quality of the services provided (accordingly 6,09 (0,32) ir (4,83 (1,64)). The functioning QMS improves motivation of the employees (4,60) and the patient safety (5,83). Hospitals with the well-functioning QMS more actively record (accordingly 4,78 (2,19) and 2,73 (1,62)) and analyse adverse events (accordingly 5,41 (2,01) and 3,09 (1,97)). Recording of adverse events helps to identify problems (6,41), improve the quality of the services provided (6,13). Conclusions: 1. QMS have been implemented in more than a half of the Lithuanian general hospitals. The hospital managers and the managers of the local medical audit group acknowledge important role of the QMS. 2. Hospital managers and managers of the local medical audit group implementing the QMS in hospitals have encountered with the following problems: the employees avoid recording adverse events, the staff lacks motivation to engage in implementation of the quality management system, hospitals lack employees competent in the field of quality... [to full text]