V L Sauter | PubMed Health

PubMed1985

A preliminary framework for studying mergers of public organizations.

In times of fiscal retrenchment, it is often necessary for two or more public organizations to merge. Not surprisingly, this need is not often met favorably by the organizations involved. This paper discusses reasons why such a response might not be unreasonable if one objectively views the pressures acting upon the organization, as well as strategies which representatives of society could use to make, merger a more desirable option for the public organization. It is generally suggested herein that the best actions include rather subtle efforts on the part of society and the targeting of smaller, less prestigious public organizations.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗

PubMed1983

Surgical utilization statistics: some methodologic considerations.

This article considers variations in the recording and counting protocols used in the generation of surgical utilization data. A single raw data source was manipulated to reproduce several common protocols to illustrate the statistically significant differences that can result in the volume of surgical utilization considered for both individual procedures and groups of procedures. The results suggest that if recording or counting protocols differ in the samples under consideration, comparison of the statistics and inferences drawn as to utilization therein may be confounded. It is quite possible, therefore, that some of the results of earlier surgical utilization studies may be confounded by such differences in protocols. While there may be valid differences in surgical utilization across different settings, our findings suggest that until methods used in previous work are investigated and reconciled, caution should be exercised in the utilization of this research in public policy making.

Female↗