OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to assess outcomes and costs associated with hospitalist comanagement of medically complex children undergoing spinal fusion surgery for neuromuscular scoliosis. METHODS A hospitalist comanagement program was implemented at a children's hospital. We conducted a retrospective case series study of patients during 2003-2008 to compare clinical and cost outcom...

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Rapid response systems (RRSs) are recommended by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and implemented worldwide. Our study on the effects of an RRS showed a non-significant decrease in cardiac arrest and/or unexpected death from 0.5% to 0.25%. Unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admissions increased significantly from 2.5% to 4.2% without a decrease in APACHE ...

this study aimed at identifying components of the household health costs.this study was a qualitative research conducted in two main phases. the first phase consisted of interviews with sample households selected in eight provinces of iran. they were to identify components of the household health costs. in the second phase, components were determined as direct, indirect and intangible based on ...

BACKGROUND The Swiss organ allocation system for donor lungs was implemented on 1 July 2007. The effects of this implementation on patient selection, intensive care unit course, outcomes and intensive care costs are unknown. METHODS The first 37 consecutive lung transplant recipients following the implementation of the new act were compared with the previous 42 lung transplant recipients. R...

In 2008, a World Health Organization multi-national clinical trial found screening and brief intervention (SBI) to be effective in reducing illicit drug use and many have called for its widespread dissemination. To gain policy support for widespread dissemination, however, a strong business case must be made to policymakers. In particular, policymaker concerns over implementation costs can act ...

BACKGROUND In the Netherlands, disease management programs (DMPs) are used to treat chronic diseases. Their aim is to improve care and to control the rising expenditures related to chronic diseases. A bundled payment was introduced to facilitate the implementation of DMPs. This payment is an all-inclusive price per patient per year for a pre-specified care package. However, it is unclear to whi...

Based on the sparse literature investigating the cost of ERP systems implementation, our research uses data from a survey of Swiss SMEs having implemented ERP in order to test cost drivers. The main innovation is the proposition of an additional classification of cost drivers that focuses on the enterprise itself, rather than on ERP. Particular attention is given to consulting fees as a major f...

A lthough the relationship between goals and behavior is substantial (Webb & Sheeran, 2006), even very motivated individuals at times fai! to act on their goals. In this chapter, we discuss the role of plans in linking goals with actual behavior. We focus specifically on a certain type of plan, an if-then plan known as an implementation intention, and review its place in the course of goal stri...