Cost effectiveness of bone marrow transplantation in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia

Article Abstract:

Improved transplantation facilities, the increase of experienced transplantation teams of doctors and the availability of donors have increased the use of organ transplantation but rising medical costs have led to questions regarding transplant cost-effectiveness. To determine the cost effectiveness of the initial therapy and ongoing treatment of bone marrow transplantation, patients receiving treatment for acute nonlymphocytic leukemia were evaluated. Initial treatment with chemotherapy was followed by additional chemotherapy in 19 patients and by bone marrow transplantation in 17 patients. The five-year cost of bone marrow transplantation was $193,000 per patient compared to $136,000 for patients who received chemotherapy. The only difference in resource use was the greater amount of time the transplantation patients spent in the intensive care unit. The cost of life saved per year was $62,500 per year in the transplantation group and $64,000 for chemotherapy treatment. It is concluded that the cost effectiveness for bone marrow transplantation is comparable to that of chemotherapy for patients who have acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. It is suggested that the selective use of the intensive care unit will bring down the costs incurred by the bone marrow transplantation group. The cost effectiveness of bone marrow transplantation in other diseases needs to be analyzed.

Care and treatment, Bone marrow, Bone marrow transplantation, Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc., Organ transplantation, Tissue transplantation, Transplantation, column, Nonlymphoid leukemia, Myeloid leukemia

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Advances in diagnostic imaging and overestimations of disease prevalence and the benefits of therapy

Article Abstract:

Many technological advances have occurred since the 1970s in the use of diagnostic imaging. These advances include diagnostic use of technologies such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography. These technologies have increased the diagnosis of diseases such as prostate cancer. Increased diagnosis of certain diseases may change estimates of disease prevalence. Widespread use of mammography, for example, has increased estimates of breast cancer prevalence significantly. It has also reduced the detection threshold from a suspicious lump to a suspicious microcalcification. Increased diagnosis may also affect the evaluation of the effectiveness of different types of treatment. Certain types of biases may be introduced by lowering the threshold of disease detection. A cycle of increasing medical intervention may also be created by increased diagnosis of different diseases.

Usage, Diseases, Statistics, Diagnostic imaging, Diagnosis, Radioscopic, Radioscopic diagnosis

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Let's make a deal: negotiating a settlement between physicians and society

Article Abstract:

Physicians may already be in the process of negotiating a plan for health care reform with society. Doctors are the main providers of health care services and they have the most at stake financially in the plans for health care reform. The American Medical Association may be the main representative of physicians in these types of negotiations, while Congress and the US Department of Health and Human Services may be the main representatives of society. The main interest of society is providing affordable health care to all US residents. Physicians are interested in earning enough money to cover their expenses and being able to practice medicine with a minimal amount of administrative interference. The interests of society and physicians overlap to some extent. This overlap provides an opportunity to find a creative solution that will satisfy the interests of both physicians and society.

Planning, Medical economics, Column, Physicians, Medical professions, Health care reform

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