An evaluation model for medical system change

An evaluation model was developed and used to monitor the impact of a new mode for entering patients into an existing health care delivery system, and it compared the new mode to two alternate entry methods. In accordance with specified eligibility criteria, 6285 patients were selected and then randomly assigned to the three entry modes. The model employed a health status classification which divided patients into four groups depending upon the concurrence of medical care provider and patient as to whether the patient was well or sick. It then measured the utilization of care resources for each patient health status group. All data were then age-sex-adjusted and analyzed for each of the three entry modes for a standard mix of health status groups.