(Ethics; writing) An HMO medical program began reimbursing hospitals according to diagnostic related groups (DRGs). Each DRG has a specified standard “length of stay.” If a patient leaves the hospital early, the hospital is financially impacted favorably, but a patient staying longer than the specified time costs the hospital money.
a. From the hospital administrator’s point of view, would you want favorable length of stay variances? How might you try to obtain such variances?
b. From a patient’s point of view, would you want favorable length of stay variances? Answer this question from the point of view of (1) a patient who has had minor surgery and (2) a patient who has had major surgery.
c. Would favorable length of stay variances necessarily equate to high quality care?