title: [Clinical economics: a concept to optimize healthcare services].
abstract: Clinical economics strives to support healthcare decisions by economic considerations. Making economic decisions does not mean saving costs but rather comparing the gained added value with the burden which has to be accepted. The necessary rules are offered in various disciplines, such as economy, epidemiology and ethics. Medical doctors have recognized these rules but are not applying them in daily clinical practice. This lacking orientation leads to preventable errors. Examples of these errors are shown for diagnosis, screening, prognosis and therapy. As these errors can be prevented by application of clinical economic principles the possible consequences for optimization of healthcare are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Klinische Ökonomik am Institut für Geschichte, Theorie und Ethik der Medizin, Universität Ulm, Frauensteige 6, 89075, Ulm, Deutschland. franz.porzsolt@uniklinik-ulm.de
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Porzsolt
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Henne-Bruns
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000191:economics; D005858:Germany; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000191:economics; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D011379:Prognosis; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000191:economics*