Cost-effectiveness and patient satisfaction with pregnancy day care for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the cost-effectiveness of, and evaluate patient satisfaction with, day care for management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.


METHODS
Retrospective descriptive study.


METHODS
Pregnancy Day Care Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne.


METHODS
A total of 1200 consecutive women attending with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.


METHODS
Sociodemographic details and perinatal outcome were entered in a purpose designed computer program. A satisfaction questionnaire was administered to 130 women. Clinical costing data were calculated by casemix analysts to compare traditional inpatient and day care models of care.


RESULTS
An admission to the Pregnancy Day Care Centre cost an average of 684.85 dollars less than a traditional inpatient admission. Women had an overwhelming preference for day care.


CONCLUSIONS
Pregnancy day care is a cost-effective method of providing care for women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Women prefer day care to inpatient care.
Dunlop
Lisa
L
Department of Perinatal Medicine, The Royal Women's Hospital, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
Umstad
Mark
M
McGrath
Gabrielle
G
Reidy
Karen
K
Brennecke
Shaun
S
D000328:Adult; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*