title: Economics of ICU organization and management.
abstract: The intensive care unit (ICU) is a complex system and the economic implications of altering care patterns in the ICU can be difficult to unravel. Few studies have specifically examined the economics of implementing organizational and management changes or acknowledged the many competing economic interests of patient, hospital,payer, and society. With continuously increasing healthcare costs,there is a great need for more studies focused on the optimal organization of the ICU. These studies should not focus solely on reductions in ICU length of stay but should strive to measure the true costs of care within a given healthcare system.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. hw2125@columbia.edu
authors: Hannah
authors: H
authors: Wunsch
authors: Hayley
authors: H
authors: Gershengorn
authors: Damon C
authors: DC
authors: Scales
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care / Q000191:economics*; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States