title: The effect of utilization on health care costs.
abstract: This report analyzes the effect of utilization on health care costs. Two important aspects of utilization are examined: (1) the type of obstetric delivery utilized; (2) the extent of utilization of hospital facilities. A retrospective review of the type of delivery employed by five different physicians to deliver 494 primiparous patients revealed cesarean section rates varying from 16% to 40%. Average charges incurred by 100 patients who had undergone uncomplicated abdominal hysterectomies varied by as much as 26%. A simple formula to project cost is included.
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D003363:Cost Control; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000191:economics; D004469:Economics, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006285:Health Planning; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000191:economics; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014600:Utilization Review