Costs (€) per patient per submodel of medical ward care
| Item | PA/MD model (n=1015) | MD model (n=1277) | p-value | ||
| PA/MR model (n=698) | PA model (n=317) | MR model (n=924) | MS model (n=353) | 1=PA/MR model 2=PA model 3=MR model 4=MS model | |
| Mean (SD)* | Mean (SD)* | Mean (SD)* | Mean (SD)* | ||
| Costs associated with principal admission | |||||
| Length of stay at the ward | 1921 (1949) | 1469 (1413) | 1557 (1335) | 1064 (675) | 1 vs 4: p=0.045 |
| Non-elective transfer to ICU | 468 (3935) | 45 (494) | 249 (2072) | 17 (322) | NS |
| Resources used during admission | |||||
| Medication | 365 (943) | 297 (600) | 280 (869) | 130 (194) | NS |
| Laboratory tests | 116 (167) | 85 (170) | 114 (149) | 58 (78) | NS |
| Diagnostic tests | 202 (253) | 73 (121) | 152 (249) | 155 (195) | NS |
| Blood products | 16 (89) | 61 (171) | 33 (130) | 42 (71) | 1 vs 2: p<0.01 3 vs 2: p<0.01 |
| Consultation with healthcare suppliers | |||||
| Medical or surgical consultant | 35 (108) | 18 (41) | 21 (50) | 11 (30) | NS |
| Paramedics and specialised nurses | 97 (175) | 94 (120) | 72 (130) | 73 (90) | NS |
| Personnel | |||||
| PA/MD who is primarily responsible for medical care | 80 (31) | 51 (3) | 93 (42) | 129 (37) | 1 vs 4: p<0.01 2 vs 4: p<0.01 3 vs 4: p<0.01 1 vs 3: p<0.01 2 vs 3: p<0.01 2 vs 1: p<0.01 |
| Supervision by staff physician | 173 (100) | 121 (59) | 178 (79) | NA | 1 vs 3: p=0.019 2 vs 3: p<0.01 2 vs 1: p<0.01 |
| Costs occurred during first month after discharge | |||||
| Presentation at emergency department | 112 (182) | 101 (182) | 125 (296) | 88 (307) | NS |
| Non-elective readmission | 455 (1176) | 467 (1647) | 438 (1054) | 388 (13 564) | NS |
| Contact with general practitioner | 57 (75) | 53 (69) | 54 (72) | 51 (67) | NS |
| Required home care | 109 (222) | 150 (298) | 104 (229) | 86 (174) | 2 vs 1: p=0.029 2 vs 3: p=0.031 2 vs 4: p=0.025 |
| Total costs | 3807 (5997) | 2754 (2536) | 3154 (3625) | 2120 (1809) | NS |
*Values are summary estimates obtained by multiple imputation.
†Only significant p values are noted.
ICU, intensive care unit; MD, medical doctor; MR, medical resident; MS, medical specialist; NA, not applicable; NS, not significant; PA , physician assistant.