title: Value = quality + cost.
abstract: Development of a quality index allows a quantifiable synthesis of selected patient-care outcomes and service costs. The quality index provides potential buyers of healthcare a way to judge the costs associated with a particular level of quality and thus, compare the value of alternative services.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program, College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Arford
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Allred
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000592:standards; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States