Cost minimization analysis Health Dictionary

Cost Minimization Analysis: From 1 Different Sources


A determination of the least costly among alternative interventions that are assumed to produce equivalent outcomes.
Health Source: Community Health
Author: Health Dictionary

Meta-analysis

A statistical procedure to combine results from different studies on a similar topic. The combination of results from multiple studies may produce a stronger conclusion than can be provided by any singular study. Meta-analysis is generally most appropriate when there are no definitive studies on a topic and non-definitive studies are in some disagreement.... meta-analysis

Analysis

Analysis means a separation into component parts by determination of the chemical constituents of a substance. The process of analysis is carried out by various means, for example: chromatographic analysis by means of the adsorption column; colorimetric analysis by means of various colour tests; densimetric analysis by estimation of the speci?c gravity; gasometric analysis by estimation of the di?erent gases given o? in some process; polariscope analysis by means of the polariscope; and volumetric analysis by measuring volumes of liquids. Analysis is also sometimes used as an abbreviation for PSYCHOANALYSIS.... analysis

Cost

Actual expenses incurred to provide a health care product or service. Cost can be divided into a number of types including: average cost: The average cost per unit; equals the total cost divided by the units of production. avoided cost: Cost caused by a health problem that is avoided by a health care intervention. direct cost: Cost borne by the health care system, the community and families, e.g. diagnosis and treatment costs. A cost that is identifiable directly with a particular activity, service or product. fixed cost: Costs that, within a defined period, do not vary with the quantity produced, e.g. overhead costs of maintaining a building. incremental cost: The difference between marginal costs of alternative interventions. indirect cost: Cost which cannot be identified directly with a particular activity, service or product of the programme experiencing the cost. Indirect costs are usually apportioned among the programme’s services in proportion to each service’s share of direct costs. intangible cost: The cost of pain and suffering resulting from a disease, condition or intervention. marginal cost: The additional cost required to produce an additional unit of benefit (e.g. unit of health outcome). operating cost: In the health field, the financial requirements necessary to operate an activity that provides health services. These costs normally include costs of personnel, materials, overheads, depreciation and interest. opportunity cost: The benefit foregone, or value of opportunities lost, by engaging resources in a service. It is usually quantified by considering the benefit that would accrue by investing the same resources in the best alternative manner. recurrent cost: An item of expenditure that recurs year after year, such as the remuneration of health workers and other staff; the cost of food and other goods and services; the cost of vaccines, medicines, appliances and other supplies; the replacement of equipment; and the maintenance of buildings and equipment. tangible cost: Objective elements in the production of care, i.e. number of personnel, beds, consumables, technologies, staff qualifications. total cost: The sum of all costs incurred in producing a set quantity of service.... cost

Cost Of Illness

The personal cost of acute or chronic disease. The cost to the patient may be an economic, social or psychological cost or loss to himself, his family or community. The cost of illness may be reflected in absenteeism, productivity, response to treatment, peace of mind, quality of life, etc. It differs from health care costs in that this concept is restricted to the cost of providing services related to the delivery of health care, rather than the impact on the personal life of the patient. See “burden of disease”.... cost of illness

Cost-benefit Analysis

The systematic comparison, in monetary terms, of all the costs and benefits of proposed alternative schemes with a view to determining: which scheme or combination of schemes will contribute most to the achievement of predetermined objectives at a fixed level of investment; or the magnitude of the benefit that can result from schemes requiring the minimum investment. The resources required per unit of benefit must be determined, account being taken of the fact that costs and benefits accrue with time. For example, the cost of establishing a home and community care programme might be compared with the total cost of building residential facilities. Cost-benefit analysis can also be applied to specific medical tests and treatments.... cost-benefit analysis

Multivariate Analysis

A set of techniques used when the variation in several variables has to be studied simultaneously. In statistics, any analytic method that allows the simultaneous study of two or more independent variables.... multivariate analysis

Risk-benefit Analysis

The process of analysing and comparing, on a single scale, the expected positive (benefits) and negative (risks, costs) results of an action, or lack of an action.... risk-benefit analysis

Average Cost

See “cost”.... average cost

Avoided Cost

See “cost”.... avoided cost

Content Analysis

A systematic analysis of the content rather than the structure of a communication, such as a written work, speech or film, including the study of thematic and symbolic elements to determine the objective or meaning of the communication.... content analysis

Cost Centre

An accounting device whereby all related costs attributable to some “financial centre” within an organization, such as a department, centre or programme, are segregated for accounting or reimbursement purposes.... cost centre

Cost Containment

A set of steps to control or reduce inefficiencies in the consumption, allocation or production of health care services which contribute to higher than necessary costs.... cost containment

Cost Outlier

A case which is more costly to treat compared with other persons in a particular diagnosis-related group. Outliers also refer to any unusual occurrence of cost, cases which skew average costs or unusual procedures.... cost outlier

Cost Sharing

Payment method whereby a person is required to pay some health costs in order to receive medical care. The general set of financing arrangements whereby the consumer must pay out-of-pocket to receive care, either at the time of initiating care or during the provision of health care services, or both. Cost sharing can also occur when an insured person pays a portion of the monthly premium for health care insurance.... cost sharing

Cost Shifting

Recouping the cost of providing uncompensated care by increasing revenues from some payers to offset losses and lower net payments from other payers.... cost shifting

Cost-benefit

The relationship between the cost of an activity and the benefit that accrues from it.... cost-benefit

Cost-effectiveness Analysis

A form of analysis that seeks to determine the costs and effectiveness of a health intervention compared with similar alternative interventions to determine the relative degree to which they will obtain the desired health outcome(s).... cost-effectiveness analysis

Cost-efficiency

The extent to which financial resources are being used as well as possible.... cost-efficiency

Cost-of-illness Analysis

A determination of the economic impact of a disease or health condition, including treatment costs.... cost-of-illness analysis

Cost-of-living Adjustment (cola)

Increase to a monthly long-term disability benefit, usually after the first year of payments. May be a flat percentage (e.g. 3%) or tied to changes in inflation.... cost-of-living adjustment (cola)

Cross-utility Analysis

A form of cost-effectiveness analysis of alternative interventions in which costs are measured in monetary units and outcomes are measured in terms of their utility, usually to the individual, e.g. using QALYs.... cross-utility analysis

Decision Analysis

An approach to decision-making that involves modelling the sequences or pathways of multiple possible strategies (e.g. of diagnosis and treatment for a particular clinical problem) to determine which is optimal. It is based upon available estimates (drawn from the literature or from experts) of the probabilities that certain events and outcomes will occur and the values of the outcomes that would result from each strategy.... decision analysis

Direct Cost

See “cost”.... direct cost

Fixed Cost

See “cost”.... fixed cost

Incremental Cost

See “cost”.... incremental cost

Indirect Cost

See “cost”.... indirect cost

Intangible Cost

The cost of pain and suffering resulting from a disease, condition or intervention.... intangible cost

Jungian Analysis

A school of ‘analytical psychology’, ?rst described by Carl Gustav Jung in 1913. It introduced the concepts of ‘introvert’ and ‘extrovert’ personalities, and developed the theory of the ‘collective unconscious’ with its archetypes of man’s basic psychic nature. In contrast with Freudian analysis (see FREUDIAN THEORY), in Jungian analysis the relationship between therapist and patient is less one-sided because the therapist is more willing to be active and to reveal information about him or herself. (See also PSYCHOANALYSIS.)... jungian analysis

Marginal Cost

See “cost”.... marginal cost

Operating Cost

See “cost”.... operating cost

Opportunity Cost

See “cost”.... opportunity cost

Profile Analysis Or Profiling

Review and analysis of practice profiles to identify and assess patterns of health care services.... profile analysis or profiling

Recurrent Cost

See “cost”.... recurrent cost

Regression Analysis

A tool to estimate the relationships among a dependent variable Y and one (or many) independent variable(s) X. The purpose of regression analysis is to find the “best fit” data points from a straight line drawn on an XY graph.... regression analysis

Root-cause Analysis

A process for identifying the basic or causal factor(s) that underlie variations in performance, including the occurrence or possible occurrence of an error.... root-cause analysis

Secondary Data Analysis

This type of analysis utilizes existing data sources either through synthesis or integration; meta-analysis is an example of secondary data analysis.... secondary data analysis

Unit (of Analysis)

The unit to which a performance measure is applied (e.g. subjects, patients, clinicians, group of professionals).... unit (of analysis)

Hair Analysis

Hair is believed to be a “time capsule” of a person’s metabolic activity. Believed to be a useful means of acquiring information regarding the concentration of mineral nutrients and toxins. Alone, it does not provide sufficient evidence for purposes of diagnosis, but helpful in building a picture of the nutritional state of the patient. ... hair analysis

Analysis, Chemical

Determination of the identity of a substance or of the individual chemical constituents of a mixture. Analysis may be qualitative, as in determining whether a particular substance is present, or it may be quantitative, that is, measuring the amount or concentration of one or more constituents. (See also assay.)... analysis, chemical

Analysis, Psychological

See psychoanalysis.... analysis, psychological

Chromosome Analysis

Study of the chromosomes in body cells to discover whether a chromosomal abnormality is present or to establish its nature. Fetal cells for analysis can be obtained in the uterus by amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. If a serious abnormality such as Down’s syndrome is identified, termination of the pregnancy and genetic counselling is offered. Chromosome analysis is also carried out when a baby is stillborn without an obvious cause, or is born with abnormal physical characteristics that suggest a chromosomal defect, such as Turner’s sydrome.

Chromosome analysis in children and adults uses white blood cells taken from a blood sample. Analysis of the sex chromosomes may be carried out to establish the chromosomal sex of a child in cases where the genitals have an ambiguous appearance (see genitalia, ambiguous); to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities; or to investigate infertility.... chromosome analysis

Dream Analysis

The interpretation of a person’s dreams as part of psychoanalysis or psychotherapy.

First developed by Sigmund Freud, it is based on the idea that repressed feelings and thoughts are revealed, in a disguised manner, in dreams.... dream analysis

Seminal Fluid Analysis

Analysis of sperm concentration, shape, and motility (ability to move).

It is used to investigate male infertility and is also done some weeks after vasectomy to ensure that the semen no longer contains sperm.... seminal fluid analysis

Intention To Treat Analysis

a research process in which results are reported according to the treatment arm to which a research subject was assigned, rather than the treatment eventually received. Intention to treat analysis is very widely used in clinical research as a method of avoiding *bias resulting from nonrandom withdrawal from the trial or crossover between treatment arms.... intention to treat analysis

Northern Blot Analysis

a technique for identifying a specific form of messenger RNA in cells. It uses a gene *probe known to match the RNA being sought. Compare Southern blot analysis; Western blot analysis.... northern blot analysis

Seminal Analysis

analysis of a specimen of semen, which should be obtained after five days of abstinence from coitus, in order to assess male fertility. Normal values are as follows: volume of ejaculate: 2–6.5 ml; liquefaction complete in 30 minutes; sperm concentration: 20–200 million spermatozoa per ml (sperm count refers to the total number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate); motility: 60% moving progressively at 30 minutes to 3 hours; abnormal forms: less than 20%. Analysis of three separate specimens is necessary before confirming the presence of an abnormal result.... seminal analysis

Six-category Intervention Analysis

a framework for exploring how care is delivered, based on the idea that there are six main styles of interaction (prescriptive, informative, confronting, cathartic, catalytic, and supportive). The analysis is widely used to help health-care professionals develop an understanding of interpersonal relationships, reflect on their own practice, and enhance their interactions with clients.... six-category intervention analysis

Southern Blot Analysis

a technique for identifying a specific form of DNA in cells. The DNA is extracted from the cells and restriction enzymes used to cut it into small fragments. The fragments are separated and a gene *probe known to match the DNA fragment being sought is used. Compare Northern blot analysis; Western blot analysis. [E. M. Southern (1938– ), US biologist]... southern blot analysis

Western Blot Analysis

a technique for the detection of specific proteins. After separation by *electrophoresis, the proteins are bound to radioactively labelled antibodies and identified by X-ray. Compare Northern blot analysis; Southern blot analysis.... western blot analysis



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