title: Cost-effectiveness and data envelopment analysis.
abstract: Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) identifies price and technical inefficiencies among decision-making units. With controls for differences in case-mix and standardized outcomes, DEA's "best practice" frontier can be interpreted as a "cost-effectiveness" frontier. This study illustrates the key concepts, identifies the decisions required to use the technique for medical care decision making, and presents an application to a system of nine hospitals that offer obstetric services.
authors.affiliation: Lawrence University, Appleton, WI.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Finkler
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Wirtschafter
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000191:economics*; D005377:Financial Management, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care