ObjectiveTo explore the new hospital management method about diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), and put forward some strategic suggestions.MethodsIn March 2019, using literature research method, relevant documents were consulted to understand the research policy and background. In April 2019, the DRGs data and first pages of medical records of a tertiary grade A hospital in 2018 were obtained through field survey. The DRG with the largest quantity of patients was selected, and then the top two treatment centers ranked by the quantity of patients were selected for analysis.ResultsA total of 11 936 patients’ face sheets for medical records were investigated, covering 18 major disease categories (MDCs) and 93 DRGs. Treatment center A and B were the top two treatment centers ranked by the quantity of patients, covering 8 MDCs and 34 DRGs. There were 1 116 patients in treatment center A and 470 patients in treatment center B, with the same case-mix index (0.820). There was no statistically significant difference in the average length of hospital stay between the two treatment centers (t=−1.926, P=0.054). The average hospitalization expenses [(45 902.64±30 028.22) vs. (40 763.34±25 141.12) yuan, t=−3.260, P=0.001], drug expenses [21 481.43 (10 663.16, 34 251.64) vs. 11 740.36 (5 818.37, 21 572.09) yuan, Z=−9.812, P<0.001], and other expenses [138.00 (84.00, 178.00) vs. 120.00 (72.00,155.28) yuan, Z=−3.573, P<0.001] in treatment center B were higher than those in treatment center A. But the medical technology expenses [(7 319.11±3 781.52) vs. (10 995.61±4 784.55) yuan, t=12.324, P<0.001] and nursing expenses [(578.42±226.82) vs. (882.99±781.63) yuan, t=8.187, P<0.001] in treatment center B were lower than those in treatment center A.ConclusionsThe disease diagnosis and treatment specifications need to be strengthened and the process needs to be optimized. In the next hospital management, we should pay attention to key indicators to improve performance appraisal, standardize the diagnosis and treatment process to promote clinical path, and mine deep data to make performance management detailed.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the comprehensive evaluation methods applied to estimate the medical service performance based on diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) in China and to provide suggestions for the promotion of methods in further studies.MethodsLiterature published before May 2019 were searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, CQVIP and PubMed for studies about DRGs-based comprehensive evaluation. After literature screening and information extracting by two reviewers independently, qualitative approaches were used to describe the application of DRGs-based comprehensive evaluation methods in the performance evaluation of medical services.ResultsA total of 24 articles were included in the systematic review. Different indexes were used to evaluate the medical service performance. Delphi Method, expert discussion, Saaty’s Method and some other means were applied to determine the weights of indexes in 8 articles. Rank-sum ratio method, Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution and synthetic index method were proposed for the comprehensive evaluation in 9, 7 and 9 articles, respectively; besides, analytic hierarchy process and combination evaluation were also used.ConclusionsBased on DRGs, the choose of indicators, weighting approaches, and calculation methods of comprehensive values vary richly in different studies. More attention should be paid to weight using and combination of comprehensive evaluation methods in further studies. Meanwhile, the quality of information source used for estimation and the rationality of results application are supposed to be emphasized.
Objective To explore the subdivision method of diagnosis-related group (DRG) by case-mix payment, and provide reference for reasonable imbursement mechanism and standard for DRG grouping, as well as disease cost accounting and performance assessment for hospitals. Methods The first page data of medical records of 17010 inpatients with uterine fibroids in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from 2019 to 2021 were included. Based on the disease and treatment, combined with the length of hospital stay, other diagnosis and other factors, nonparametric test and generalized linear model were used to explore the factors affecting hospitalization expenses. Decision tree model was performed to yield case-mix related groups and predict the cost. Results The inpatients with uterine fibroids were classified into 13 groups in decision tree model based on the main surgical methods, other surgical types, and length of hospital stay. The reduction in variance was 0.34, and the coefficient of variation was 0.19-0.88. Conclusions The case-mix payment approach based on the decision tree model as the grouping method is more consistent with the actual clinical diagnosis and treatment of uterine fibroids, and can be used as method reference for the subdivision of DRG. Under the background of DRG, subdivision of DRG can provide decision-making basis for refined hospital management, including in-hospital cost accounting and performance allocation.
Objective To evaluate the effect of day surgery with diagnosis-related groups (DRG) evaluation indicators. Methods The inpatients undergoing surgery in Beijing Tongren Hospital of Capital Medical University between March and September 2022 were enrolled in this study. The medical quality, medical efficiency, hospitalization cost, DRG insurance payment and other DRD-related indicators were retrospectively collected and compared between day surgery patients and non-day surgery patients, and the average length of hospital stay and hospitalization costs were compared between the two surgery modes within DRGs. Chi-square test was used for enumeration data, and t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for measurement data. Results A total of 29339 day surgery patients and 19019 non-day surgery patients were enrolled. In the day surgery group, the proportions of local patients (71.71% vs. 68.62%), routine discharge (99.93% vs. 99.78%), and class A incisions (99.92% vs. 99.55%) were better than those in the non-day surgery group (P<0.05), and the average length of hospital stay [(1.00±0.00) vs. (6.98±5.00) d] and the average hospitalization costs [(7306.62±4605.73) vs. (24913.97±24623.54) yuan] were lower than those in the non-day surgery group (P<0.05). The top 2 reduction of average length of hospital stay were in the CB49 group and CB39 group, decreasing by 87.45% and 86.24%, respectively. The top 2 reduction of hospitalization costs were in the DC19 group and CC15 group, decreasing by 84.15% and 73.61%, respectively. DRG payment balance of medical insurance in the day surgery group was higher than that in the non-day surgery group (22.95% vs. 5.98%). Conclusions Day surgery not only ensure the medical quality, but also shorten the length of hospital stay and reduce the burden of medical expenses. Day surgery can effectively improve the utilization efficiency of hospital bed resources, it is an effective measure to promote the high quality development of hospital and comply with DRG payment reform.
ObjectiveTo preliminary investigate the impact of the diagnosis-related groups (DRG) payment method reform on the diagnosis and treatment of inpatient medical insurance patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), and to propose potential improvement strategies. MethodsA single-center, retrospective study. From October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2022, 44 hospitalized medical insurance patients with acute-phase NMOSD diagnosed and treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University (Xi'an First Hospital) were included in the study. Among them, there were 11 males and 33 females, with an average age of (40.8±20.2) years. According to the implementation time of DRG payment, patients were divided into two groups: group A, which consists of cases one year before the implementation of DRG payment from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, and group B, which consists of cases one year after the implementation of DRG payment from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022, with 20 and 24 cases, respectively. Detailed information such as hospitalization duration, treatment methods, and hospitalization costs of the two groups of patients was collected. Comparative analysis was conducted on hospitalization costs and treatment methods between the two groups. For intergroup comparison, t-test was used for normally distributed data, and Mann-Whitney U test was used for skewed distributed data. ResultsAmong the 44 patients, 5 cases (5/24, 20.8%) received plasma exchange (PE) treatment, all of whom were in group B. The numbers of patients who received and did not receive intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment were 9 and 11 in group A, respectively, and 7 and 12 in group B (except for 5 cases who received PE treatment), respectively. Compared with group A, there was no significant decrease in hospitalization duration (t=0.004) and total hospitalization costs (Z=0.036), as well as costs for western medicine (Z=0.036), examinations (Z=0.011), laboratory tests (Z=0.040), treatments (Z=0.017), and nursing (Z=3.131) in group B, and the differences were not statistically significant (P＞0.05). For patients receiving PE treatment, except for the cost of western medicine (Z=0.062, P=0.804), the other costs (Z=8.288, 5.013, 11.400, 10.925, 9.126) were significantly higher than those of patients not receiving PE treatment, and the hospitalization duration (t=20.474) was significantly prolonged, with statistically significant differences (P＜0.05). The total hospitalization costs of patients receiving IVIG treatment were significantly higher than those not receiving IVIG treatment in both group A and group B, with statistically significant differences (Z=7.690, 10.314; P＜0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the comparison of total hospitalization costs between patients receiving IVIG treatment in group A and group B (Z=0.137, P＞0.05). ConclusionsThere is no significant decrease in various hospitalization costs of NMOSD medical insurance patients in Xi'an after the implementation of DRG payment, especially for patients receiving PE treatment. It is suggested to optimize the rate stratification of NMOSD patients when implementing DRG payment methods.