Time-Driven Activity-Based Cost Comparison of Three Imaging Pathways for Suspected Midgut Volvulus in Children

ObjectiveTo use time-driven activity-based costing to compare the costs of pathways for evaluating suspected pediatric midgut volvulus using either fluoroscopic upper gastrointestinal examination (UGI) or focused abdominal ultrasound (US).MethodsProcess maps were created through patient shadowing, medical record review, and frontline staff interviews. Using time-driven activity-based costing methodology, practical capacity cost rates were calculated for personnel, equipment, and facility costs. Supply costs were included at institutional purchase prices. The cost of each process substep was determined by multiplying step-specific capacity costs by the median time required for each step, and substep costs were summed to generate total pathway cost. Multivariate sensitivity analyses were performed applying minimum and maximum labor costs. Assuming UGI would be used to troubleshoot nondiagnostic US, a break-even analysis was performed to determine the cost impact of varying frequencies of UGI on the total cost of the US-based pathway.ResultsProcess maps were created from 105 (48 girls, 57 boys) patient encounters. Base case pathway times were 90 min (UGI) and 55 min (US). Base case cost for UGI was $282.74 (range: $170.86-$800.82) when performed by a radiology practitioner assistant and $545.66 (range: $260.97-$1,974.06) when performed by a radiologist. Base case cost for US was $155.67 (range: $122.94-$432.29) when performed by a sonographer and $242.64 (range: $147.46-$1,330.05) when performed by a radiologist. For a US-based pathway, the total cost break-even pathway mix (percent UGI required for troubleshooting) was 57%.ConclusionUS can be a faster and less costly alternative to UGI in pediatric patients with suspected midgut volvulus.     

Economic Issues in the Treatment of BPH

The long-term cost of effective management for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) remains an important issue in pharmacoeconomics because about 25% of men aged 50 yr and older experience voiding problems due to BPH. With the ageing population and the increase in the percentage of patients with BPH for whom any type of treatment can be considered, a substantial increase in total costs to society can be expected. The up-front costs of interventional approaches to BPH are being replaced by a pattern of long-term medical and preventive therapy. The age-adjusted rate of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) reached a high point in 1987 and TURP rates, but not costs, have been in decline ever since. Mean 1-yr treatment costs (medical therapy and TURP) have been estimated in a pan-European study to be 858 Euros per patient, 75% of which were medication costs. Using a 2-yr time frame for treatment, Medicare costs for finasteride, terazosin, and TURP have been estimated as $3874, $2161, and $1820, respectively. The available models of the total long-term cost for all therapies for BPH remain compromised by a lack of inclusion of indirect costs, the lack of true long-term data and, critically, the lack of human cost information (patient preference). Only medical therapy provides a preventive as well as symptomatic potential and, if all of the issues were fully incorporated, it is likely that medical therapy would be increasingly recognised as economically preferable.     

小型移动数字成像系统下行经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术

目的 :探讨移动数字成像系统GE OECSeries 980 0进行经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术 (PTCA)的可行性和安全性。方法 :回顾分析 32例应用GE OECSeries 980 0X线机进行PTCA治疗冠心病的临床资料。结果 :①本组病例成功率为 90 6 % (2 9/ 32 ) ,血管成功率为 88 1% (37/ 4 2 ) ,病变成功率 83% (39/ 4 7)。成功病例狭窄由术前目测平均直径狭窄(92 8± 3 5 ) %减少到术后的 (6 5± 4 2 ) %。②AMI溶栓后补救性PTCA成功率高。结论 :应用GE OECSeries 980 0X线机能够满足心血管病区心脏介入治疗的需要 ,是安全可行的和具有良好的成本 效益比     

通过三年资料实证医院检验科常规项目全成本

目的弄清医院常规检验项目的实际成本,为医院及卫生主管部门进行科学管理和政府物价部门制订科学合理的收费价格体系提供科学依据。方法对某二级甲等医院检验科3年中所开展的全部7大类16个项目组169个检验项目的成本按耗材、设备折旧、劳务费、房屋折旧、业务费与后勤管理费共5大类进行实证分析。结果该科的成本构成比是:耗材成本34.1%、设备折旧24.3%、劳务费30.0%、房屋折旧4.0%、业务费与后勤管理费7.6%;检验项目的每项次平均成本为7.17元;成本最低的两类检验项目是生化及定性免疫,其项次成本分别为3.18元和4.25元;最高的则为微生物和血库,项次成本分别为48.63元和35.21元;项次成本过百元的有7项,多为输血项目;5至10倍于平均成本的28项,2至5倍于全科平均成本的22项,其余112项介于全科平均成本上下。结论实证研究是准确掌握检验项目成本的有效方法。     

Length of hospital stay and associated costs for olanzapine vs. haloperidol in the treatment of schizophrenia relapse in Germany

We examined the number of days spent in hospital due to a relapse of schizophrenia and the associated costs for patients treated with olanzapine or haloperidol. Twenty-one German psychiatric hospitals participated in this retrospective study. Data on the last hospitalisation following a relapse of schizophrenia were documented for equal numbers of patients on olanzapine and haloperidol. Matching for time since diagnosis and severity of symptoms was performed. Data were collected on 136 matched pairs. Total length of time spent in hospital was the same on average for patients in both groups (median about 5 weeks), but olanzapine patients spent nearly 1 week less in the in-patient setting than haloperidol patients, resulting in a saving of Euro 411 per patient. Our findings are consistent with those of randomised clinical trials in concluding that olanzapine is preferable to haloperidol in terms of the direct cost of treating schizophrenia. Andrea Spannheimer Kendle GmbH & Co. GMI KG, Stefan-George-Ring 6, 81929 Munich, Germany, e-mail: spannheimer.andrea@kendle.com     

医疗卫生服务价格改革方向初探

医疗卫生服务价格改革是要理顺价格构成成份之间量的关系，使每个构成成份的价格值都在供求关系的约束中，在政府的有效管制中，从而成为医疗卫生资源合理配置的有效工具。为此：①对生产要素分别定价；②对劳动定价；③对资本和自然资源定价；④确定医疗卫生机构内部管理时劳动价格；⑤价格中的所有构成成份价格都置于供给和需求关系约束下；⑥确定医疗卫生服务价格的理想传递方式。