Model for the Management of Supplemental Care Expenditures for Computed Tomography (CT) Scans at Irwin Army Community Hospital, Fort Riley, Kansas.

摘要

This paper describes an algorithmic model to guide the commander of a medium-sized Army medical treatment facility in attempting to control supplemental care fund expenditures for computed tomography services purchased from outside providers. The model is patterned after the Linnean taxonomic key process frequently used in the natural sciences to systematically evaluate alternatives in arriving at the identification of an organism. The steps described are designed to be useful, both as a prelude to the recognition of a requirement for on-site services and between submission of the requirement and delivery and installation of the equipment. They were designed to allow a systematic analysis of the process which these services are ordered by the practitioner, scheduled by the scans clerk, and vendors selected by the hospital administration. An analysis of this type is useful, both for an examination of procedures currently in place by which to contain costs and as an aid in exploring opportunities for further cost savings.