Journal of evaluation in clinical practice
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Comparative Study
Hospital utilization and costs for spinal cord stimulation compared with enhanced external counterpulsation for refractory angina pectoris.
The aim of this study was to compare acute hospital utilization and costs for patients with refractory angina pectoris undergoing spinal cord stimulation (SCS) versus enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP). ⋯ Cost-effective treatment modalities such as SCS and EECP are valuable additions to medical and revascularization therapy in patients with refractory angina pectoris. Pre-existing conditions and the patient's preferences should be taken in consideration when clinicians choose between treatments for this group of patients.
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The objective of this study was to analyse whether electronic medical records (EMRs) of total hip and knee arthroplasty can be used to manage the optimal time of surgery. ⋯ Data from electronic patient entries complemented with data of the operable condition can be used for defining the optimal operation time with regard to the pre-operative condition of the patients. The implication of prolonged waiting times was not very profound, but elderly patients benefit from a short waiting time.
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To determine the relation of the readmission rate of general medical patients to either the existence of a discharge summary or the timeliness of its dispatch. ⋯ Delayed transmission or absence of a discharge summary is associated with readmission of the patient; more so in patients less than 80 years old. If no summary is generated by 7 days after discharge, the rate of readmission within 7 or 28 days after discharge is indistinguishable from no summary being written at all.