title: Proposal for relative units of value (RUV) for use in allergy examinations.
abstract: Health resources are limited and consequently real cost generators must be identified to optimize resources. In the present article, we describe the structure of the Homogeneous Functional Groups (HFG) for Diagnostic Techniques in the Allergy Department of the Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital in Murcia (Spain) and the healthcare products generated. Based on the 2005 budget, variable costing was used to calculate the costs of the healthcare products generated (skin tests, investigation of drug allergies, etc.) by one of the three HFG (the HFG for complementary investigations). On the basis of these costs, and taking as the unit the cost of one skin prick test, we assigned relative units of value (RUV) to each of the products in our services portfolio. The following conclusions can be drawn: 1) the current system of variable costing provides information, which should be useful to health professionals; 2) the real cost generators in the microcosm of daily clinical practice should be identified to allow resource reallocation; 3) the costing system used enables modifications to be made that allow decision making on optimal use of the budget; 4) to take the decisions required to optimize resources, clinical management and complementary tests should go hand-in-hand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergology, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, 30120 El Palmar, Murcia, Spain. jnegroa@meditex.es
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Negro Alvarez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascual Camus
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murcia Alemán
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aparicio García
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Jiménez Molina
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernández García
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pagán Alemán
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Puerta Jiménez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferrandiz Gomis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alcaraz Quiñonero
mesh_terms: D000486:Allergy and Immunology / Q000191:economics*; D001944:Breath Tests; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000592:standards*; D003625:Data Collection; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000191:economics*; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000191:economics; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics; D007120:Immunochemistry / Q000191:economics; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000191:economics; D013030:Spain; D013147:Spirometry / Q000191:economics
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E