Information by authorities on hospital performance
Gillet, P.
Journal de Gynecologie Obstetrique et Biologie de la Reproduction 29(3): 330-332
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0368-2315 PMID: 10804386 Document Number: 512298
Information gathered in hospitals in Belgium by the authorities or their intermediaries is of three types: financial, medico-administrative, and quality of care assessment. From these computerized date bases, the public authorities can now measure socalled hospital "productivity". The aim announced by the authorities is to simultaneously combine increased economic effectiveness with improved quality of care. The use of this new bank of knowledge aims to enforce a sense of responsability to medical care. Regulation of the medical system by "medical management" can apply at various level depending on whether it works "a priori" or "a posteriori" and which or without financial incentives. There is however the risk of creating inaccuracies which must be taken into account when adjusting costs to each particular patient group. The use of all these tools should enable distinguishing between economic and qualitative objectives.