Open AccessRegional Differences in Surgical Care Based Upon Uniform Physician and Hospital Discharge Abstract Data
Author(s) -
Don E. Detmer,
Timothy J. Tyson
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
annals of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.153
H-Index - 309
eISSN - 1528-1140
pISSN - 0003-4932
DOI - 10.1097/00000658-197802000-00012
Subject(s) - medicine , tonsillectomy , adenoidectomy , throat , surgical procedures , health care , nose , population , general hospital , surgery , general surgery , environmental health , economics , economic growth
Population based surgical rates for various common surgical procedures were analyzed on a regional basis by examining select uniform hospital discharge abstract data from Wisconsin hospitals. The surgical asbracts of nearly 64,000 procedures were compared to the supply of physicians and showed a significant variation in the rates of common procedures even within rather large planning districts. In general, the volume of surgery correlated with the supply of surgeons. Exceptions were noted; for example, primary appendectomy, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T & A), and inguinal herniorrhaphy did not correlate with the supply of surgeons, but did correlate with the supply of general practitioners. Further, T & A had a strong negative correlation to the supply of ear, nose and throat specialists. Information of this type has significance both for Professional Standard Review Organizations (PSROs) and Health Planning Agencies (HPAs). Further work will be necessary to define optimal surgical rates.