Avoiding unnecessary critical care costs.
Critical care services are major contributors to rising healthcare costs, with intensive care units (ICUs) consuming nearly 20 percent of the country's healthcare expenditures. This article examines ways of controlling and avoiding unnecessary ICU costs. A case study shows how a thorough examination of admission, discharge, and transfer practices and provision of the appropriate number and mix of ICU and step-down beds can significantly reduce the use of critical care resources.
Chi Systems, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI.
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Bonvissuto
D003363:Cost Control / Q000379:methods*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000191:economics*; D005102:Health Expenditures; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000592:standards; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009657:North Carolina; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States