Selection and Economical Use of Hospital Legal Counsel

Article Abstract:

There is a growing necessity for hospitals to retain legal counsel due to the complex and difficult legal problems they face. Guidelines in selecting a lawyer focus on the number of hospital beds and the existence of an independent lawyer for its medical staff. The benefits of selecting a law firm or an individual attorney are reviewed. An understanding of hourly rates and the amount of service provided by firms is essential. An attorney's services extend beyond maintaining the hospital's legal status and can include preventive and educational law, personnel organization, and early consultation of potential legal problems. Utilization of legal work can be controlled by carefully reviewing monthy detailed bills.

Medical personnel, Legal services, Malpractice, Medical malpractice

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Hospital-reviewer relations and effective utilization review

Article Abstract:

The relations between hospitals and utilization reviewers are analyzed in this study which compares costs of hospital care with a hospital's compliance with utilization review. Research was confined to a single utilization review operation in Indiana. Compliance was seen as willingness to provide information in a professional and timely manner. In a utilization review, a reviewer may authorize a patient's hospitalization and continue to monitor the patient's progress and utilization of services. Hospitals perceived as having a 'great' degree of compliance were found to also have an average of 19% lower costs.

General medical & surgical hospitals, Evaluation, Medical care, Medical care utilization

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Hospital specialization and cost efficiency: benefits of trimming product lines

Article Abstract:

Research into the economic benefits of hospital specialization from 1983 to 1990 showed that, for the 232 hospitals in the sample, a 26.9% reduction in services offered resulted in a 6.9% lower unit cost per admission. Quality of care also increased. Circumstances affecting specialization were found to include geographical location and government rate regulation, competition with health maintenance organizations and other hospitals, bed size and medical staff interests.

Hospitals, Research, Medicine, Industrial efficiency, Economic efficiency, Medical specialties

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