[Diagnosis-related groups--possibilities and problems]. / Diagnoserelaterte grupper--muligheter og problemer.

Classification of patients into Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRGs) provides several opportunities in the field of hospital management. The author describes some of these opportunities and discusses the associated problems. The benefit to be obtained from using DRGs depends to a large extent on future improvements in the quality of the input data. This classification will not completely satisfy the need for information on activities in hospitals. We should be aware of the problems associated with the use of DRG, but should simultaneously recognize the potential of the system to provide better information on hospital performance. Use of DRG as a basis for hospital financing seems to be an important factor which might help to improve the quality of the data. Objections to this classification have not resulted in other generally acceptable methods of grouping patients.

[What do the waiting lists cost? A study of patients with backache]. / Hva koster ventelistene? En studie av ryggpasienter.

Waiting for treatment usually contributes to patients' psychological and financial problems. In this study we calculate and discuss the economic implications of these patients being on a waiting list for treatment. Our calculations show that the income lost in economic production is higher than the cost of treating patients with degenerative low back pain. This is mainly because these afflictions strike people of working age and render them invalids, whereas early adequate treatment usually allows the patients to take up their previous work.