The Effects of Cardiac Specialty Hospitals on the Cost and Quality of Medical Care /

The recent rise of specialty hospitals -- typically for-profit firms that are at least partially owned by physicians -- has led to substantial debate about their effects on the cost and quality of care. Advocates of specialty hospitals claim they improve quality and lower cost; critics contend they...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
1. Verfasser:
Barro, Jason R.
Körperschaft:
National Bureau of Economic Research
Weitere Verfasser:
Huckman, Robert S., Kessler, Daniel P.
Format:
Elektronisch E-Book
Sprache:
Englisch
Veröffentlicht:
Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2005.
Zusammenfassung:
The recent rise of specialty hospitals -- typically for-profit firms that are at least partially owned by physicians -- has led to substantial debate about their effects on the cost and quality of care. Advocates of specialty hospitals claim they improve quality and lower cost; critics contend they concentrate on providing profitable procedures and attracting relatively healthy patients, leaving (predominantly nonprofit) general hospitals with a less-remunerative, sicker patient population. We find support for both sides of this debate. Markets experiencing entry by a cardiac specialty hospital have lower spending for cardiac care without significantly worse clinical outcomes. In markets with a specialty hospital, however, specialty hospitals tend to attract healthier patients and provide higher levels of intensive procedures than general hospitals.
Umfang:
1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);
Anmerkungen:
October 2005.
Schlagworte: