Relating Nursing Care Requirements to Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs)
Abstract
The implementation of the prospective payment system (PPS) to reimburse medical treatment facilities (MTFs) for care provided had a definite impact on healthcare facilities. According to the PPS, payments to healthcare facilities include coverage for all aspects of the provision of health care, including the care provided by nurses. With the costs of nursing labor continually rising, healthcare executives must become familiar with the costs of provide nursing care to patients. Birch and Davis (1990) conducted a study of nursing care hours required for 80 percent of cases treated in U.S. Army MTFs. The noted a strong correlation, with the exception of four DRGs, between total nursing care hours and acuity among the top 114 DRGs. This study will analyze the nursing care hours required for DRGs 138 and 139 at Wilford Hall USAF medical Center (WHMC) and compare the results with those found in the Birch and Davis study. Analysis will be performed at both the diagnosis and the DRG level. Any variations in nursing care hours, if found, are expected to be at the diagnosis level. Variations in nursing care hours at the diagnosis level could be indicative of heterogeneity within the DRG.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 09, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA243547
Entities
People
- Holly A. Slater
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology