Critical care medicine
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Critical care medicine · May 1995
Review Comparative StudyA review of cost studies of intensive care units: problems with the cost concept.
To study methods for costing hospital services, specifically in relation to multi-unit studies of activity, case mix, severity of illness, outcome, and resource use in adult intensive care units (ICUs). ⋯ The methodologies for costing ICU therapy are flawed and fail to provide correct answers. In most studies, the study question is not adequately specified and the cost concept used in the studies is not tailored to the purposes of the study. Standardizing the cost model would lead to better, faster, and more reliable costing. This standardized cost model should not be rigid, but adaptable to different decision situations. A decision tree or taxonomy is proposed as a way toward better costing of ICU activity.
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Critical care medicine · May 1995
Editorial Comment ReviewResuscitation following trauma and hemorrhagic shock: is hydroxyethyl starch safe?