title: [The cost effectiveness of hemorrhage units].
abstract: Gastrointestinal bleeding units appear as an alternative to intensive care units in the management of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Their hospitalization advantages and economic impact, however, are poorly evaluated. A survey was done among 176 Spanish general hospitals over 100 beds. Forty-four percent of the 176 hospitals answering the questionnaire had a protocol for the management of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Results from our survey show that gastrointestinal bleeding units are regarded as either useful (53%) or necessary (41%) by most hospitals, and should be equipped to provide intermediate-type care (88%). To the vast majority of hospitals, patient care is paramount to evaluate the yield of gastrointestinal bleeding units; in contrast, cost-efficiency analysis is relevant to only 31%, whereas the combination of cost efficiency and research is relevant to 61% of hospitals. Mean hospital charges for patients in our gastrointestinal bleeding unit, which has an occupancy rate of 95%, are 53% higher than those for regular inpatients, and 64% lower than those for patients in the intensive care unit.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Regional Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Jaramillo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gálvez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miño
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
vernacular_title: Rentabilidad de las unidades de sangrantes.