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Health Care Efficiency Measures

Appendix G (continued): Characteristics of Health Care Efficiency Measures Published in Peer-Reviewed Literature [1982-2006]

Contents
United States Only - Unit of Observation: Hospital
    Unit of Observation: Hospital (Continued)
United States Only - Unit of Observation: Physician
United States Only - Unit of Observation: Health Plans
United States Only - Unit of Observation: Nurses

United States Only - Unit of Observation: Other

United States Only - Unit of Observation: Physician N=32

Author,
year
Type of
paper
Unit of
observation
Sample
size
Data
source
Time frame Years Inputs Outputs PR AC PT CM PM Method Data on
reliability,
sensitivity
analysis,
validity
reported?
Thomas JW, 200694 Research Physician 104,744 Patients Primary data Longitudinal 1999-2002 Total costs
Financial
Episode of care
Health services
X     X   Other regression-based approach No /Yes/No
Pope GC, 199095 Descriptive Physician NR Secondary data Time series 1976-1986 Number of physicians
Physical
Week, month, or year of care provided
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
              Number of physicians
Physical
Physician visit
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
              Physician time
Physical
Physician visit
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
              Number of physicians
Physical
Charges
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
              Physician time
Physical
Charges
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
              Number of physicians, Number of other personnel
Physical
Charges
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
Chilingerian JA et al., 199796 Research Physician 326 Physicians Primary data Cross-sectional 1990 Other counts, Hosp days, Physician visits
Physical
Week, month, or year of care provided
Health services
X   X     DEA No /No /No
Ozcan YA, 199897 Research Physician 160 Physicians Secondary data Cross-sectional 1993 Drugs (counts), Physician visits, Number of lab/diagnostic tests, Discharges
Physical
Episode of care
Health services
X     X DEA     No /Yes/No
Ozcan YA et al., 200098 Research Physician 178 Physicians Secondary data Cross-sectional 1993 Drugs (counts), Physician visits, Emergency visit, Number of lab/diagnostic tests Physical
Other counts,
Hosp discharge, Episode of care
Health services
X         DEA No /No /No
Abouleish AE et al., 200099 Descriptive Physician 26 Physicians Primary data Cross-sectional 1997-1998 Number of physicians
Physical
Week, month, or year of care provided
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
              Number of physicians
Physical
Relative value unit
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
Chilingerian JA et al., 1996100 Research Physician 326 Physicians Primary data Cross-sectional 1990 Other capital costs(f), Other counts(p), Physician visits(p), Hosp days(p)
Physical
Financial
Week, month, or year of care provided
Health services
X   X     DEA, Other regression-based approach No /Yes/No
Pai CW et al., 2000101 Research Physician 176 Physicians Secondary data Cross-sectional 1993 Drugs (counts)(p), Total costs(f), Physician visits(p), Number of lab/diagnostic tests(p), Emergency visit(p)
Physical
Financial
Episode of care
Health services
          DEA No /No /No
Chilingerian JA, 1989102 Research Physician 36 Physicians, 1,992 Patients Primary data Cross-sectional 1987 Ancillary cost(f), Hosp days(p)
Physical
Financial
Hosp discharge
Health services
X   X X   DEA No /Yes/No
Chilingerian JA et al., 1990103 Research Physician 15 Physicians Primary data Cross-sectional Yrs
N/R
Ancillary cost(f), Hosp days(p)
Physical
Financial
Hosp discharge
Health services
      X   DEA No /No /No
Burns LR et al., 1994104 Research Physician 43,625 Patients Secondary data Cross-sectional 1989-1990 Hosp days
Physical
Hosp discharge
Health services
X X X X   Other regression-based approach No /Yes/No
              Total charges
Financial
Hosp discharge
Health services
X X X X   Other regression-based approach No /Yes/No
Chilingerian JA, 1995105 Research Physician 36 Physicians Secondary data Cross-sectional Yrs
N/R
Hosp days(p), Ancillary cost(f)
Physical
Financial
Hosp discharge
Health services
X     X   DEA No /Yes/No
Diamond HS et al., 1998106 Descriptive Physician 9,935 Patients Primary data Longitudinal 1994-1995 Hosp days
Physical
Hosp discharge
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
              Total costs
Financial
Hosp discharge
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
Garg ML et al., 1991107 Descriptive Physician 130 Physicians Primary data Longitudinal 1985-1986 Number of physicians
Physical
Physician visit
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
Camasso MJ et al., 1994108 Research Physician 1,424 Patients, 64 Physicians Primary data Cross-sectional 1985 Physician time
Physical
Physician visit
Health services
X         Ratios No /Yes/No
Defelice LC et al., 1997109 Research Physician 924 Physicians Secondary data Cross-sectional 1984-1985 Physician time, Nurse time, Administrative staff time, Other counts
Physical
Physician visit
Health services
X X       SFA No /No /No
Weeks WB et al., 2003110 Descriptive Physician 1,930 Physicians Secondary data Longitudinal 1987-1998 Physician time
Physical
Physician visit
Health services
X         Ratios No /No /No
              Number of physicians
Physical
Physician visit
Health services
X         Ratios No /No /No
Editor, 2002111 Descriptive Physician NR Secondary data Cross-sectional 2002 Total charges
Financial
Relative value unit
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
Albritton TA et al., 1997112 Descriptive Physician 4,987 Patients, 11 Physicians Primary data Cross-sectional 1996 Number of physicians
Physical
Relative value unit
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
              Physician visits
Physical
Relative value unit
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
Hilton C et al., 1997113 Descriptive Physician 17 Physicians Primary data Cross-sectional 1996 Number of physicians
Physical
Relative value unit
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
Cramer JS et al., 2000114 Descriptive Physician 21 Physicians Primary data Longitudinal 1997-1999 Number of physicians
Physical
Relative value unit
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
Melzer SM et al., 2001115 Descriptive Physician 1,738 Patients, 28 Physicians Primary data Cross-sectional 1997-1998 Number of physicians
Physical
Relative value unit
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
Andreae MC et al., 2002116 Descriptive Physician 35 Physicians Primary data, Secondary data Longitudinal 1999-2000 Physician time
Physical
Relative value unit
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
American Medical Group Association, 2002117 Descriptive Physician NR Secondary data Cross-sectional 2002 Number of physicians
Physical
Relative value unit
Health services
X         Ratios No /No /No
Coleman DL et al., 2003118 Research, Descriptive, Develop methodology Physician NR Not specified Cross-sectional Yrs
N/A
Number of physicians
Physical
Relative value unit(s), Training(other), Research(other)
Health services Other
          Ratios No /No /No
Fairchild DG et al., 2001119 Descriptive Physician 132 Physicians Primary data Cross-sectional 1996-1997 Physician time
Physical
Relative value unit
Health services
X     X   Ratios No /No /No
              Total costs
Financial
Covered lives
Health services
X     X   Ratios No /No /No
Thomas JW et al., 2004120 Descriptive Physician 100,755 Patients, 804 Physicians Secondary data Cross-sectional 1997-1998 Total costs
Financial
Covered lives
Health services
X   X X   Ratios No /Yes/Yes
Gaynor M et al., 1990121 Research Physician, Medical groups 957 Medical groups, 6,353 Physicians Secondary data Cross-sectional 1978 Physician time, Nurse time, Administrative staff time
Physical
Physician visit
Health services
X X       SFA No /Yes/No
Conrad DA et al., 2002122 Research Physician, Medical groups 383 Medical groups, 6,129 Physicians Secondary data Cross-sectional 1997 Number of nurses(p), Number of administrative staff(p), Physician time(p), Other capital costs(f)
Physical
Financial
Charges
Health services
X X       Other regression-based approach No /Yes/No
              Number of nurses(p), Number of administrative staff(p), Physician time(p), Other capital costs(f)
Physical
Financial
Relative value unit
Health services
X X         No /Yes/No
Rosenman R et al., 2004123 Research Physician, Medical groups 502 Medical groups Secondary data Cross-sectional 1998 Number of physicians(p), Number of other personnel(p), Other capital costs(f), Other counts(p), Wage rate/wages(p)
Physical
Financial
Outpatient procedure, Inpatient procedure
Health services
X X       DEA, Other regression-based approach No /Yes/No
Kralewski JE et al., 2000124 Research Physician, Medical groups 86 Medical groups, 57,123 Patients Primary data Cross-sectional 1995 Total costs
Financial
Covered lives
Health services
X   X X X Ratios, Other regression-based approach No /No /No
Blunt E, 1998125 Descriptive Physician, Nurse 6 Physicians, 2 Nurses Primary data Cross-sectional 1996-1997 Number of other personnel
Physical
Physician visit
Health services
      X   Ratios No /No /No

*Explanatory variables: PR=Provider characteristics, AC=Area characteristics, PT=Patient characteristics, CM=Case mix adjustment, PM=Payment method

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United States Only - Unit of Observation: Health Plans N=9

Author,
year
Type of
paper
Unit of
observation
Sample
size
Data
source
Time frame Years Inputs Outputs PR AC PT CM PM Method Data on
reliability,
sensitivity
analysis,
validity
reported?
Cutler,David M et al., 1998126 Research Health plan 908 Patients, 4,243 Patients Primary data, Secondary data Cross-sectional 1993/ 1995 Total costs
Financial
Episode of care
Health services
X         Other regression-based approach No /No /No
Cutler DM et al., 2000127 Research Health plan 6,965 Patients Secondary data Cross-sectional 1993-1995 Total costs
Financial
Episode of care
Health services
          Ratios No /No /No
Ahern M et al., 1996128 Research Health plan 20 Health plans Secondary data Longitudinal 1991-1993 Total costs
Financial
Physician visit, Covered lives, Hosp days, Non-physician visit
Health services
X X       Other regression-based approach No /No /No
Rollins J et al., 2001129 Research Health plan 36 Health plans Secondary data Longitudinal 1993-1997 Physician labor costs, Other labor costs, Administrative expenditures, Inpatient expenses
Financial
Physician visit, Hosp days, Non-physician visit
Health services
X         DEA No /No /No
Brockett PL et al., 2004130 Research Health plan 108 Health plans Secondary data Cross-sectional 1995 Total premiums
Financial
Physician visit, Hosp days
Health services
  X       DEA No /Yes/No
              Total costs
Financial
Physician visit, Covered lives, Hosp days
Health services
  X       DEA No /Yes/No
Siddharthan K et al., 2000131 Research Health plan 125 Health plans Secondary data Cross-sectional 1994 Operating cost
Financial
Covered lives
Health services
X X       SFA No /Yes/No
Siddharthan K et al., 2000132 Research Health plan 164 Health plans Secondary data Cross-sectional 1995 Hosp days, Physician visits, Emergency room visits, Outpatient procedure performed
Physical
Covered lives
Health services
          DEA No /No /No
Rosenman R et al., 1997133 Research Health plan 28 Health plans Secondary data Cross-sectional 1994 Total assets(p), Administrative expenditures(f), Medical cost(f)
Physical
Financial
Covered lives
Health services
X         DEA No /No /No
Bryce CL et al., 2000134 Research, Develop methodology Health plan 585 Health plans Secondary data Longitudinal 1985-1994 Hosp days(p), Physician visits(p), Administrative expenditures(f), Other costs(f)
Physical
Financial
Covered lives
Health services
X X   X   DEA, SFA, Other regression-based approach No /Yes/No

*Explanatory variables: PR=Provider characteristics, AC=Area characteristics, PT=Patient characteristics, CM=Case mix adjustment, PM=Payment method

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