Document Detail


A business case for shared medical appointments in dermatology: improving access and the bottom line.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20404226     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the economic viability of shared medical appointments (SMAs) in dermatology. Secondary objectives include a comparison of the hourly adjusted census levels generated by SMAs compared with regular clinic appointments (RCAs), as well as a comparison between the economic viability of dermatology SMAs and SMAs in other fields of medicine. DESIGN: Cost-benefit analysis. SETTING: Outpatient clinics within an academic medical center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire. PATIENTS: No patient-identifying information was obtained or reported. The SMA census data included 301 SMAs (11 different programs and 5 separate departments), representing 2045 appointments over 16 months. Comparisons between patient groups were based on data from the SMA census and mean provider census (MPC) for RCAs, matched on reason for appointment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hourly adjusted census levels and profit differences (charges less costs) between SMAs and MPC for RCAs. RESULTS: All individual and departmental SMAs generated significantly higher mean census levels and profits per hour than the respective non-SMA MPC of the health care provider leading the SMA (individual, P < .05; departmental, P < .001). All dermatology SMAs generated significantly greater differences in hourly adjusted census levels and profit in comparisons between SMAs and MPC for RCAs than the respective measures in all other departments (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Taken together, the results of this study provide strong evidence to support a business case for SMAs in dermatology as a means of simultaneously improving access, productivity, and the bottom line.
Authors:
Tivon Sidorsky; Zhen Huang; James G H Dinulos
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Archives of dermatology     Volume:  146     ISSN:  1538-3652     ISO Abbreviation:  Arch Dermatol     Publication Date:  2010 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-04-20     Completed Date:  2010-05-18     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0372433     Medline TA:  Arch Dermatol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  374-81     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Ambulatory Care Facilities / economics
Appointments and Schedules*
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Dermatology / organization & administration*
Group Practice / economics*
Health Services Accessibility / organization & administration*
Humans
Income
Practice Management, Medical / organization & administration
Program Evaluation
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Arch Dermatol. 2010 Apr;146(4):434-6   [PMID:  20404236 ]

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


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