title: [Comparison of management of ambulatory emergency patients in the family practice and the hospital emergency center].
abstract: The increase in health care cost is broadly discussed in the public, either in the hospital or ambulatory setting. With the present study we compared the invoice amount generated by a first doctor's advice in the general practitioner to the one in the emergency room. In addition, we compared the diagnostic procedures used in the general practice to the one in the hospital, and whether the choice of diagnostic procedures would substantially influence the invoice amount. The invoice amount in the hospital setting was on average CHF 197.-, i. e. 134%, higher compared to the general practice. The difference in the invoice amount was largely explained by more diagnostic procedures in the hospital. Moreover, part of the higher invoice amount was generated by the extensive physical examination by doctors in the hospital.
authors.affiliation: Departement Medizin, Kantonsspital Winterthur.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bovet Fritschi
authors.affiliation: Departement Medizin, Kantonsspital Winterthur.
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Ballmer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000191:economics; D013557:Switzerland; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Diagnostik; Patientenzufriedenheit; Rechnung; Spital; ambulant; ambulatory; diagnostic; facture; hospital; hôpital; invoice; patient satisfaction; satisfaction des patients; soins ambulatoires