RESUMEN
In a prospective study we registered the lengths of stay for hospital care for diagnosis-related groups (DRG) for 980 consecutive admissions to a medium-sized medical department in Oslo. The DRG codes which should discriminate between high and low ages and between routine and complicated cases were found to differentiate well in an economic sense, based on the length of hospital stays. We conclude that the main principles of this American system can probably be used in Norway, although some modifications are necessary.
Asunto(s)
Grupos Diagnósticos Relacionados , Adulto , Anciano , Femenino , Departamentos de Hospitales/economía , Humanos , Tiempo de Internación/economía , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Noruega , Estudios ProspectivosRESUMEN
In a prospective study at Aker hospital in Norway, chronic alcohol abuse was the cause of five per cent (48 of 980) of the medical admissions. The alcohol abusers were approximately ten years younger than the other patients. Eighty per cent were men, and fifty-four per cent were single. Most of the admissions (90%) were acute. Gastrointestinal diseases, psychiatric disorders and intoxications dominated among the alcohol abusers. The cost of treatment was lower, however, for the alcohol abusers than for other patients, because the former seldom needed expensive treatment and the stay in hospital was often short.