RESUMO
Background: There is increasing interest in the study and improvement of health system resource allocation. The Adjusted Clinical Groups (ACG) System measures the morbidity burden of patient populations based on disease patterns, age and gender. This system can be used in primary health care settings. Aim: To report the use of the ACG system as a risk based patient classification system and its potential as a resource allocation mechanism in primary health care. Material and Methods: Patient diagnoses from a sample of primary care establishments were processed using the Johns Hopkins ACG System. Linear regressions were used to measure the ACG System's ability to explain resource use and ambulatory visit rates. Results: The ACG System had a statistically significant capacity to explain primary health care costs with an adjusted R² of 0.26. These results are significantly better, compared with risk assessment models based on patients' age and sex, whose adjusted R² is 0.05. Conclusions: The use of risk adjustment mechanisms will contribute to improve health care resource allocation as well to know the disease profile of the population.
Assuntos
Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Grupos Diagnósticos Relacionados , Atenção Primária à Saúde/economia , Alocação de Recursos , Chile , Modelos Lineares , Projetos Piloto , Medição de RiscoRESUMO
Background: The knowledge of variables influencing hospital efficiency is of paramount importance to carry out initiatives of management improvement and optimization. Aim: To explore on the hospital technical efficiency factors. Material and Methods: Data from 255,439 hospital discharges from 28 hospitals from May to October 2011 were analyzed. The efficiency index developed by Santelices et al was calculated. Proxy variables of hospital practices, human resource productivity, strategic performance, financing mechanisms, geographical territory and specialization, were considered. The analysis was carried out estimating econometric models. Results: The most significant variables to explain efficiency are the length of stay adjusted by complexity, the discharges per nurse and midwife and the performance of the Hospital Balancea Score Card. Conclusions: The suggested analysis contributes to identify hospital efficiency causes. The results suggest ways to improve performance of hospitals.
Assuntos
Humanos , Eficiência Organizacional , Administração Hospitalar , Chile , Economia Hospitalar , Tempo de Internação , Modelos EconométricosRESUMO
Background: Efficiency in the use ofresources in health systems and hospitals has been a matter ofinterestfor administrators as well asforpolicy makers. The growing costs due to higher levéis of demand from the population require a better use and allocation ofsuch costs. Aim: To assess the technical efficiency in 28 hospitals in Chile, considering the period from May to October, 2011. Material and Methods: The average number ofavailable beds, the number ofstaffand the expenses on consumer and service goods were used as production inputs and, on the other hand, the expenditures adjusted by the Diagnosis-Related Groups (IR-DRG) were used as producís. To assess the technical efficiency, the Data Envelopment Analysis technique was used. Results: The levéis of inefficiency fluctuóte from 20 to 23.3%. In other words, with a 20% increase in hospital discharges and maintainingfixed inputs, hospitals could become efficient. Conclusions: The incorporation of methodologies to determine efficiency allows gathering new knowledge for people who manage resources as well asforpolicy makers by optimizing practices and having better allocation criteria.