Cost per patient in a general surgical ward was related to duration of stay and postoperative morbidity, suggesting a resource unit-based system is most suitable for clinicians monitoring resources.
Observational
No
Data relating to the cost of caring for individual patients were collected for all patients in a general surgical ward over a six-month period. From this the cost per patient was calculated for various diseases and was found to be related to duration of stay. Postoperative morbidity was important in determining cost. A system that calculates cost by means of units based on the use of resources rather than by cash cost accounting is probably the most suitable for a clinician who has to monitor resources.
Denise Harper (Sat,) conducted a observational in General surgical ward patients. Cost per patient in a general surgical ward was related to duration of stay and postoperative morbidity, suggesting a resource unit-based system is most suitable for clinicians monitoring resources.