Title: The effects of cardiac specialty hospitals on the cost and quality of medical care
Description: "The recent rise of specialty hospitals -- typically for-profit firms that are at least partially owned by physicians -- has led to substantial debate about their effects on the cost and quality of care.  Advocates of specialty hospitals claim they improve quality and lower cost; critics contend they concentrate on providing profitable procedures and attracting relatively healthy patients, leaving (predominantly nonprofit) general hospitals with a less-remunerative, sicker patient population.  We find support for both sides of this debate.  Markets experiencing entry by a cardiac specialty hospital have lower spending for cardiac care without significantly worse clinical outcomes.  In markets with a specialty hospital, however, specialty hospitals tend to attract healthier patients and provide higher levels of intensive procedures than general hospitals"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Subjects: Cost of Medical care, Diseases, Economic aspects, Economic aspects of Specialty hospitals, Heart, Hospitals, Specialty hospitals
Places: United States