摘要:

This paper presents a cost-benefit analysis of public dental care programs in the United States. Using the cost of an artificial “bridge” as an estimate of the benefit of saving a tooth and the costs of periodic examinations and dental treatment as cost measures, the costs and benefits of two such programs are estimated. Changes are made in key variables to determine how cost and benefit estimates would be affected. The major conclusion is that public dental care programs must be administered over a relatively long time span before net benefits accrue on an annual basis. The study concludes with a discussion of the policy implications.

ISSN:0025-7079    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1976

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The primary aim of this paper is to examine the impact of mergers on the performance of hospitals. The study tests the null hypothesis that no significant differences exist in efficiency and effectiveness between hospitals that merge and those which remain independent entities. The performance evaluation model follows closely similar models used to study the performance of merging banks. The findings of the study suggest that 1) large urban hospitals contemplating merger should view carefully the trade-offs involved between efficiency and effectiveness as indicated by the measures employed in this study, since the evidence indicates that the increased service capability achieved in merging hospitals is accompanied by a significant increase in costs; and 2) the concept appears very promising for small rural hospitals, especially in view of evidence that various benefits extend over the short-, intermediate-, and long-range time frames employed in the study.

ISSN:0025-7079    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1976

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Many studies have been done to identify health problems and practices and to obtain knowledge of the characteristics of the population. Often specific data desired by the investigators are not available at the time of final analysis. This paper emphasizes the importance of planning and designing the system for recording and processing information together with the planning and development of the program or project. Principles that were applied and problems that occurred in demonstration projects in developed and less developed countries are described. Some examples of applications to improve the health services for the rural dwellers in a less developed country are illustrated. The methodology evolved has broad application and may be useful to others who have needs for data on an ambulatory population.

ISSN:0025-7079    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1976

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

A conceptual model for the analysis of personal and collective health services systems is proposed. By placing existing formal models in the framework of this conceptual model, we emphasized their qualities and shortcomings. We discussed the normative and descriptive approach of formal modeling. Finally, we emphasized the close conceptual parallel that exists between personal and collective health services systems.

ISSN:0025-7079    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1976

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Today's China, still a developing country with per capita health expenditure of 50 cents to one dollar (U.S.), has established a complex network of health facilities and well-distributed health personnel through the efforts of the existing political structure. The curative health services are decentralized and provide care through a variety of plans which combine capitation prepayment and modified fee-for-service. Each plan is striving for the goal of making health care accessible to all at low cost, and hence, efforts of cost containment for self-sufficiency are widely practiced. The responsibility of the preventive health services (such as health education, screening, family planning, food distribution, etc.) are assumed by the central government and they are provided without charge to encourage maximal utilization.Other features of the Chinese system discussed include self-reliance, self-sufficiency, mass orientation, regionalization and innovative utilization of existing facilities, and personnel.

ISSN:0025-7079    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1976

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

A private clinic was established in Los Angeles in late 1972 to perform acupuncture. Most individuals seeking treatment were middle-aged and well educated. All had considerable experience with traditional medical care for their problem. The principal reason for seeking care was relief from chronic pain. Thirteen per cent had received other nontraditional forms of therapy; over one-third indicated that they sought acupuncture as a "last resort." The results of certain psychological tests taken by these patients were within the range of normal. On completion of six or more treatments, 74 per cent said they had been helped; 54 per cent of those followed for three months and 24 per cent contacted one year later were improved. A subgroup of patients who received only temporary improvement had significantly different scores on psychological scales suggesting the results noted in this group may have been due to a "placebo" effect. A significant proportion of those who dropped out of treatment did so because they had achieved the desired benefits.

ISSN:0025-7079    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1976

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Failure to keep appointments constitutes a barrier to the delivery or continuous care in many comprehensive health care facilities. At a neighborhood health center in Pittsburgh, Pa., 336 appointments were studied to determine whether reminder letters or reminder calls could improve compliance with appointments scheduled more than three weeks in advance.The failure rate in the control group was 38 per cent compared with 10 per cent for the letter reminder group and 9 per cent for the telephone reminder group. The differences in kept, cancelled, and failed rates between letter and telephone groups were not statistically significant (p>.05).The kept rate increased with patient's age in all three groups. Compliance was not affected by sex of the patient, length of time that appointment was scheduled in advance, or day of the week. Compliance was greatest among appointments scheduled for chronic illness follow-up and physical examinations, and least among appointments scheduled for "screening".

ISSN:0025-7079    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1976

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

This study compared mail, telephone, and control strategies to reduce the rate of broken appointments in a pediatric outpatient department. Based on 1,039 randomly assigned appointments, the mail strategy had a broken appointment rate of 29.1 per cent, the telephone strategy of 25.3 per cent, and the control of 44.2 per cent. Both strategies were significantly effective, but the difference between them was not significant. Patients without telephones had a higher rate of broken appointments than patients with telephones. Mailed reminders are the more cost-effective intervention.

ISSN:0025-7079    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1976

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0025-7079    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1976

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0025-7079    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1976

数据来源: OVID