Document Detail


Getting to the bottom line. Hospitals' survival may hinge on the contribution margin.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  10293865     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Healthcare managers have devoted increasing attention to product line management in the face of growing competition. The general belief has been that although product line management and the contribution approach (internal financial reporting and analysis that distinguish between variable and fixed expenses and include the contribution margin) help enhance profitability for hospitals that have the prerequisite software systems and management expertise, they are hardly necessary for survival. But the contribution approach to product line management may indeed be required for survival for all hospitals. Current hospital accounting systems do not provide information on which products contribute to fixed expenses and profitability and which, although vital, are financial losers. Product line managers need this information to make optimal decision trade-offs among quality, availability, and benefits of medical services. The contribution margin is the difference between the fee received for the service and the variable expenses incurred in providing the service. It represents the resources available to cover fixed expenses that will occur regardless of volume and to provide a profit (or, for the not-for-profit, to provide working capital and expand services).
Authors:
F D Margrif
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Health progress (Saint Louis, Mo.)     Volume:  70     ISSN:  0882-1577     ISO Abbreviation:  Health Prog     Publication Date:    1989 Jul-Aug
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1989-08-22     Completed Date:  1989-08-22     Revised Date:  2000-12-18    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8500263     Medline TA:  Health Prog     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  42-5     Citation Subset:  H    
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Accounting / methods*
Financial Management / methods*
Financial Management, Hospital / methods*
Hospital Administration / economics*
Income
Product Line Management / economics*
United States

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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