Costs and Decision-Making Processes in Non-Profit, General-Purpose Hospitals.
Abstract
A literature survey was conducted on the relationship between hospital costs and decision-making processes. Costs are seen as consequences of decisions made by four groups within the hospital setting: (1) board of trustees; (2) administrator; (3) medical director; and (4) medical staff. These sets of organizational players are studied in terms of functions and responsibilities, compatibility in a professional bureaucracy, powers and influences, and goals. Attempts are made to discern what kinds of decisions are made by each group and what impact those decisions will have on costs. The authors conclude that cost control mechanisms can focus on either resource availability or resource utilization. The former is seen as multi-influenced while the latter is essentially controlled by physicians. An argument is made for the need to internalize cost information into the physician's clinical judgements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA078155
Entities
People
- Hamilton Smith Todd Jr.
- Stephen Charles Rice
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School