The aspects of healthcare quality that are important to health professionals and patients: A qualitative study

•“Quality care” definitions must encompass the perspectives of physicians, nurses and patients.•“Quality care” judgments are mainly based on care processes, less on structures or outcomes.•Successful communication and staff motivation are core indicators of high-quality care.•“Hippocratic pride” in response to care successes constitutes a new quality care indicator.•“Rapid reactivity” in response to (near) failures constitutes a new quality care indicator.