[Economic benefits of the cochlear implant for treating profound sensorineural hearing loss]. / Beneficios económicos del implante coclear para la hipoacusia sensorineural profunda.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the cost-benefit, cost-utility, and cost-effectiveness of cochlear implantation, comparing it to the use of hearing aids in children with profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. METHODS: The nonparametric propensity score matching method was used to carry out an economic and impact assessment of the cochlear implant and then perform cost-benefit, cost-utility, and cost-effectiveness analyses. Primary information was used, taken randomly from 100 patients: 62 who received cochlear implants (treatment group) and 38 belonging to the control group who used hearing aids to treat profound sensorineural hearing loss. RESULTS: An economic cost differential was found-to the advantage of the cochlear implant-of close to US$ 204,000 between the implant and the use of hearing aids over the expected life span of the patients analyzed. This amount refers to the greater expenses that hearing-aid patients will have. With this adjusted figure, the cost-benefit indicator shows that for each dollar invested to treat the cochlear-implant patient, there is a return on the investment of US$ 2.07. CONCLUSIONS: The cochlear implant produces economic benefits for the patient. It also produces health utilities since positive cost-utility (gain in decibels) and cost-effectiveness (gain in language discrimination) ratios were found.

Calidad de servicio y grado de satisfacción de los trabajadores en las áreas e limpieza, lavandería, cocina y portería en el IMMPB / Quality of service and degree of satisfaction of the workers inthe areas and cleaning, luundry, kitchen, and porter's lodge in the IMMPB

El objetivo general es conocer y determinar el nivel de calidad de servicio y grado de satisfacción de los trabajadores en las áreas de limpieza, lavandería, cocina y portería en la IMPB en gestión 1999