Physician-Generated Cost Containment in Transurethral Prostatectomy
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1988
Journal Title
Journal of Urology
ISSN
0022-5347
DOI
10.1016/S0022-5347(17)41590-4
Abstract
Cost containment need not be imposed on physicians by government, insurance companies and hospital administrators. Decreases in hospital cost can be achieved voluntarily by physicians without sacrificing quality of care, especially for common procedures with relatively homogeneous patient populations, such as transurethral prostatectomy. Variations in existing practice were identified and shared, and optimal scientific practice was discussed at 5 meetings of the division of urology during a 16-month period. Strict guidelines were not developed; surgeons were encouraged to apply cost-related knowledge individually. Resource use was measured before, during and after the intervention. A total of 356 transurethral prostatectomies was studied. There were significant decreases in preoperative and postoperative length of stay, specific ordering practices and total hospital charges. University faculty differed from community urologists and individual surgeons varied considerably. Suggestions for scientific cost management in prostatectomy are presented.
First Page
311
Last Page
315
Num Pages
5
Volume Number
140
Issue Number
2
Publisher
Wolters Kluwer
Recommended Citation
William M. Sage, Robert Kessler, Lucia S. Sommers & James F. Silverman,
Physician-Generated Cost Containment in Transurethral Prostatectomy,
140
J. Urology
311
(1988).
Available at:
https://scholarship.law.tamu.edu/facscholar/1765