Prioritizing Oregon's hospital resources: an example based on variations in discretionary medical utilization
Article Abstract:
If the number of optional hospital admissions was reduced in Oregon, an estimated $0.4 million to $94.7 million per year could be saved. Oregon hospital discharge data from 1988 were analyzed to determine the number of hospital days that were used by residents for optional hospital admissions in 33 hospital service areas. In the 16 largest hospital service areas, the number of hospital days used for optional hospital admissions ranged from 188 to 335 patient days per 1,000 residents. Oregon may save an estimated $0.4 million to $94.7 million per year by restricting the number of hospital days that could be used in each hospital area. A total of 218 hospital days per 1,000 residents were used in Salem, the state capital. If this rate was used state-wide, 238 hospital beds could be eliminated in 20 hospital service areas, and an estimated $47.3 million per year could be saved. The money that would be saved could be directed towards other types of health services.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1992
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An assessment of radical prostatectomy: time trends, geographic variation, and outcomes
Article Abstract:
The use of radical prostatectomy to treat men with prostate cancer may be increasing. A radical prostatectomy involves surgical removal of the entire prostate gland. A study examined the number of radical prostatectomies among male Medicare patients over 65 years old between 1984 and 1990. Among 10,598 men who had a radical prostatectomy, 50% were between 65 and 69 years old, 38% were between 70 and 74 years old, 11% were between 75 and 79 years old and 2% were over 80 years old. Almost six times as many men had a radical prostatectomy in 1990 as in 1984. Between 1988 and 1990, the surgery rate was higher in the Pacific and Mountain regions than in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. Almost 2% of the men over 75 years old who had a radical prostatectomy died after the procedure, and almost 8% experienced cardiopulmonary complications within 30 days of having the procedure.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1993
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