Professional standards review organizations. Analysis of their development and implementation based on a preliminary review of the Hospital Admission and Surveillance Program in Illinois

Effect of hospital utilization review on medical expenditures in selected diagnostic areas: an exploratory study

Quarterly claims data on 43 insured groups were analyzed through multivariate techniques to explore whether the effects of hospital inpatient utilization review vary across selected broad diagnostic areas. Findings suggest that utilization review was associated with decreases in expenditures of approximately 15 percent for diagnoses within the surgical area, a lesser decrease within the mental health area, and still lesser decrease within the medical area. However, these measurements are imprecise both because of the small numbers and the aggregated diagnoses in each category.

Interdiscimplinary differences on a general hospital psychiatry unit

A questionnaire was distributed to staff members of a 28-bed general hospital psychiatry unit to determine and compare staff perceptions of the value of psychotherapies and the role of the disciplines in conducting treatments. Marked interdisciplinary differences were reported in attitudes toward the use of psychopharmacologic agents, the importance of diagnostic evaluation, the value of psychotherapy in the treatment program, the role of various disciplines in the program, and the therapeutic community approach. Clinical implications of the magnitude of interdisciplinary differences are discussed, and recommendations are made for resolving intergroup conflict.