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Biomedical subjects

J L Ashby

Publications and source records attributed to J L Ashby.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

The trend in hospital output and labor productivity, 1980-1989.

This paper analyzes changes in hospital labor productivity from 1980 through 1989. Our primary measure is called aggregate productivity, defined as the ratio of admissions (after controlling for the complexity of patients treated) to full-time equivalent employees. To scrutinize changes in aggregate productivity more closely, we also developed two component measures. These are intermediate productivity, which examines the labor necessary to produce a set of patient care services, and the intensity of services. The data show that hospitals clearly became more efficient in producing services during the 1980s. However, these gains were overwhelmed by more services being provided, resulting in a decline in aggregate productivity. The pattern of intensity and productivity changes can be associated with some distinct phases of the Medicare prospective payment system.

Diagnosis-Related Groups↗
PubMed1984

The impact of hospital regulatory programs on per capita costs, utilization, and capital investment.

Regulatory programs are widely used to exert disciplinary force on rising health care costs. This study assessed the impact of three widely used regulatory schemes in the hospital sector between 1971 and 1977: prospective rate setting, certificate of need, and professional standards review organizations. Strong evidence was found that neither voluntary rate setting nor CON review exerted any constraining effect on costs per capita, utilization, and capital investment. A negative but statistically insignificant influence on costs was documented for mandatory rate setting. A substantial cost moderating effect was, however, documented for PSROs. Utilization review may thus be a useful mechanism to counterbalance the incentive of per case rate setting to increase admissions.

Capital Expenditures↗