The effects of cardiac specialty hospitals on the cost and quality of medical care.
The recent rise of specialty hospitals--typically for-profit firms that are at least partially owned by physicians--has led to substantial debate about their effects on the cost and quality of care. Advocates of specialty hospitals claim they improve quality and lower cost; critics contend they concentrate on providing profitable procedures and attracting relatively healthy patients, leaving (predominantly nonprofit) general hospitals with a less-remunerative, sicker patient population. We find support for both sides of this debate. Markets experiencing entry by a cardiac specialty hospital have lower spending for cardiac care without significantly worse clinical outcomes. In markets with a specialty hospital, however, specialty hospitals tend to attract healthier patients and provide higher levels of intensive procedures than general hospitals.
Barro
Jason R
JR
Bain and Company, USA.
Huckman
Robert S
RS
Kessler
Daniel P
DP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002309:Cardiology; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States