title: A quantitative approach to quality improvement and resource allocation.
abstract: This report illustrates ways in which routinely collected hospital morbidity data can be used to inform and improve decisions about resource allocation, priorities for services and opportunities for improvement. All hospitals, public and private, Australia-wide collect these data at enormous expense. The resources allocated to processing, analysing and utilizing the data are minimal by comparison. Used appropriately these data can provide valuable information to managers and clinicians alike.
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hardes
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data