title: The use of cost and management information to improve the efficiency of an out patients clinic.
abstract: The Project described in this paper was the development of a micro-computerised database of the management of patients presenting to a hospital clinic with abdominal pain. The database contains clinical, resource use and cost information, and was used to aid the consultant in charge to assess and monitor his patterns of management. During the course of this project, and arguably partly because of the information provided, the overall cost per patient fell by 25%. The project was carried out by the Health Services Research Unit at the University of Warwick between 1982 and 1986, the principal investigator being J.A. Stilwell. The collaborating Health Authority was Dudley, and the Consultant Gastroenterologist was Dr A.N. Hamlyn. Finance was provided by the Department of Health and Social Security.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000191:economics; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000191:economics; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D006113:United Kingdom