Study to Determine the Feasibility of Establishing a Patient Self-Care Unit atMadigan Army Medical Center

摘要

A case study of inpatient utilization at Madigan Army Medical Center wasconducted in three phases to determine the number of inpatient bed days coded as self care to determine the potential for future populations of self care patients, and to conduct a cost benefit analysis between establishing a self care unit or keeping self care patients in an inpatient bed. An investigation of Nursing Workload Management Data indicated that in 2605 inpatient bed days were coded as self care in 1994 and 1812 bed days in 1995. Investigation of the lengths of stay for ten high volume Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG) indicated that future admissions using current practice patterns would potentially yield 2135 self care days within these ten DRGs alone. Results of the cost benefit analysis indicated that establishing a self care unit within Madigan Army Medical Center would increase variable costs by $42,649. It was recommended that the self care unit not be established and that alternative uses for available ward space be explored.