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Impact of physician awareness on hospital charges for radical retropubic prostatectomy
E V Kramolowsky1, N L Wood, K L Rollins
1Urology Center, Trigon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia, Richmond, USA.
Purpose:
We determine if physician awareness of hospital costs for radical retropubic prostatectomy affects physician practice patterns.
Materials And Methods:
We reviewed 256 consecutive radical retropubic prostatectomies performed by 14 urologists during 4 years at a community hospital. After 2 years the physicians were provided information on factors that may decrease charges.
Results:
Charges decreased significantly following intervention, from +f417,134 within the initial 2 years to +f413,826 within the last 2 years (p < 0.005). Significant decreases were noted for length of stay, need for intensive care, operating time and blood loss.
Conclusions:
Traditional methods of physician education can impact practice patterns to decrease hospital charges for radical retropubic prostatectomy.
