DRGs, orthopedic surgery, and age at an academic medical center.

摘要: The federal Medicare Diagnostic Related Group (DRG) hospital reimbursement system has been on line for 5 years. Hospitals contend that profit margins have dropped to dangerously low levels, due the DRG Prospective Payment System. authors analyzed all orthopedic surgical admissions a large academic medical center under and characterized patients by age, resource utilization, outcome. Total costs 1,040 during 15-month period added up $9,718,800. Mean cost per patient, mean length of stay, percent outliers, mortality generally increased with age. All age categories 65 years above generated financial losses DRGs. Older consumed disproportionately larger share resources than younger patients, were more frequent users SICU blood. current scheme may be inequitable in relation older surgery patient. If these findings are demonstrated at other centers, could limited both their access quality care future.