Utilization of health services among patients referred to an alcohol treatment program.
This study assessed utilization of health services among 1,317 adults referred to an outpatient Psychiatry Department alcohol treatment program from July, 1988 through December, 1989. The mean number of visits/year for 1 year before and 4 years after treatment referral were compared for all outpatient clinics combined and 4 clinic subgroups; the mean number of hospitalizations and number of days hospitalized were also analyzed. Overall, utilization was higher before treatment than after, except for Psychiatry Department visits. Amount of treatment received had little effect on utilization. These results suggest that alcoholism treatment contributes to a reduction in higher cost health services utilization.
Armstrong
M A
MA
Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Oakland, California 94611-5714, USA. maryanne.armstrong@kp.org
Midanik
L T
LT
Klatsky
A L
AL
Lazere
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review