TABLE 4.
Analysis C: summary of parameters examined for all DRG-matched patients in study and severity-adjusted control group
| Parameter | Severity-adjusted control group | Study group | Difference between severity-adjusted control and study groupsa |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. of patients | 190 | 188 | Not applicable |
| Age (yr) | 65.6 | 66.1 | +0.5 |
| Mortality rate (crude rate) (%) | 12.6 | 11.2 | −1.4 |
| Average length of stay (days) | 12.2 | 11.0 | −1.2 |
| Average total cost ($) | 16,106 | 13,294 | −2,812 |
| Average variable cost ($) | 7,355 | 5,889 | −1,466 |
| Average variable cost in pharmacy ($) | 1,466 | 1,227 | −239 |
| Average variable cost in radiology ($) | 274 | 222 | −52 |
a
Negative and positive numbers indicate a decrease and an increase compared with the value for the study group, respectively.