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Clinical Economics Sections
Author Bio
Introduction
Model of Economic Analysis
Basic Principles of Costing
Perspectives
Types of Analysis

Marginal and Incremental Analysis

Economic Efficiency
Sensitivity Analysis

Discounting

Currently selected section: Conclusion
Case Study 1
Case Study 2
Acknowledgements


Chapter 12: Clinical Economics: Conclusions
        

Decisions to implement, expand, reduce, or eliminate health care programs impact the lives of patients, politicians, payers, and providers. While clinical economics cannot solve all health care problems, it is a useful tool when making choices among alternative uses of limited resources.

Clinicians and medical investigators who design, develop, and conduct symptom research are likely to benefit from understanding basic notions of health economics.

Users of the chapter who want to enhance their understanding of clinical economics can explore the two case studies that follow this section.

Ten Basic Notions of Health Economics
  1. Health needs are unlimited, but resources are finite.
  2. Health economics involves health benefits as much as it involves costs.
  3. Costs of medical care are not restricted to the hospital or the health sector.
  4. Health care choices involve value judgments.
  5. Consideration of cost in a properly performed economic analysis is not unethical.
  6. Many of the simple rules of market operations do not pertain to health care.
  7. Most health care choices relate to changes in the level or extent of a given activity, not the total activity.
  8. The provision of health care is but one way to improve the health of the population.
  9. Individuals and society preferred to postpone cost and to obtain benefits in the present.
  10. Equity in health care may be desirable, about reducing inequities usually comes at a price in terms of other benefits foregone.

 

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