title: [The diagnostic admission in an internal medicine service: clinical and economic aspects].
abstract: Efficacy and costs of the diagnostic process have been under extensive investigation for a long time. In this study we present a detailed, retrospective analysis of the clinical and economic aspects of 347 diagnostic admissions in a teaching hospital. We have, furthermore, investigated the clinical history of a group of 50 patients, from the beginning up to one year after definitive diagnosis, through a structured questionnaire. The results shed some light onto efficacy, cost-effectiveness and cost-profit balance of diagnostic admissions. Strategies to improve efficacy and cost-effectiveness are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona. pomponio@univpm.it
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pomponio
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tirotta
authors.forename: Loris
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pietracci
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pasquali
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pupita
authors.forename: Gianmario
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raggetti
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gabrielli
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000191:economics*; D004180:Direct Service Costs; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires