title: Volume associations in total hip arthroplasty: a nationwide Taiwan population-based study.
abstract: This cohort study retrospectively analyzed 78,364 THAs performed from 1998 to 2009. The mean hospital charge for all THAs performed during the study period was $4,131.9 dollars. The average hospital charges for high-volume hospitals and surgeons were 6% and 7% lower, respectively, than those for low-volume hospitals and surgeons. Analysis by propensity score matching showed that hospital charges significantly differed between THA procedures performed by high- and low-volume hospitals ($3,285.8 dollars versus $4,816.2 dollars, respectively) and between THA procedures performed by high- and low-volume surgeons, ($3,438.5 dollars versus $4,404.7 dollars, respectively) (P < 0.001). The data indicate that analysis and emulation of the treatment strategies used by high-volume hospitals and by high-volume surgeons may reduce overall hospital charges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Administration and Medical Informatics, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hon-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Je-Ken
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Herng-Chia
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chiu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061847:Hospitals, High-Volume / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057216:Propensity Score; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Taiwan; hospital charge; total hip arthroplasty; volume