overnight hospital stay minimized attendant risks of hospital care, lessened psychosocial trauma and reduced the average hospital bill by $493 (29%). Hospital ...
Costs ol Care
Containing Costs in the Treatment of Congenital Heart Disease J. DEANE WALDMAN, MD; LILY GEORGE, MD; JOHN J. LAMBERTI, MD; FREDERICK A. LODGE, MD; STANLEY J. PAPPELBAUM, MD; SEARLE W. TURNER, MD; JAMES W. MATHEWSON, MD, and STANLEY E. KIRKPATRICK, MD, San Diego
In the Congenital Heart Program at San Diego Children's Hospital, alterations in medical practice have reduced costs without impairing quality or access. Pediatric cardiac catheterization was done in 483 consecutive elective patients without overnight hospital stay. Hospital readmission was required in one patient for psoas tendinitis. Avoiding overnight hospital stay minimized attendant risks of hospital care, lessened psychosocial trauma and reduced the average hospital bill by $493 (29%). Hospital stay was also reduced for elective surgical correction of congenital heart disease on a case-by-case basis. Review of 151 consecutive cases (1978 through 1982) showed a decrease in both preoperative days in hospital and postoperative days in an intensive care unit. The duration of the postoperative stay was shortened from 6.8 days in 1978-1979 to 4.4 days in 1982 (P
