Did case-based payment influence surgical readmission rates in France? A retrospective study.

Objectives: To determine whether implementation of a case-based payment system changed all-cause readmission rates in the 30 days following discharge after surgery, we analysed all surgical procedures performed in all hospitals in France before (2002-2004), during (2005-2008) and after (2009-2012) its implementation.

Setting: Our study is based on claims data for all surgical procedures performed in all acute care hospitals with >300 surgical admissions per year (740 hospitals) in France over 11 years (2002-2012; n=51.6 million admissions).

The use of national administrative data to describe the spatial distribution of in-hospital mortality following stroke in France, 2008-2011.

Background: In the context of implementing the National Stroke Plan in France, a spatial approach was used to measure inequalities in this disease. Using the national PMSI-MCO databases, we analyzed the in-hospital prevalence of stroke and established a map of in-hospital mortality rates with regard to the socio-demographic structure of the country.

Methods: The principal characteristics of patients identified according to ICD10 codes relative to stroke (in accordance with earlier validation work) were studied.

A data mining approach for grouping and analyzing trajectories of care using claim data: the example of breast cancer.

Background: With the increasing burden of chronic diseases, analyzing and understanding trajectories of care is essential for efficient planning and fair allocation of resources. We propose an approach based on mining claim data to support the exploration of trajectories of care.

Methods: A clustering of trajectories of care for breast cancer was performed with Formal Concept Analysis.

Market empowerment of the patient: the French experience.

Through analysis of the French experience, this article explores the way economic policy has sought to encourage active, well-informed patients by giving them market power. The new status of the patient as consumer is based on two foundations: the endeavour to build a healthcare market and the activation of demand-based policies. The keystone of this new system is a conception of the market as a process constructed by economic policy.

[Toxoplasmosis seroconversion in pregnant women. The differing attitudes in France].

Introduction: Since 1992 France has been running a toxoplasmosis prevention program based on the serological detection of infections during pregnancy. In the absence of a consensus, the seroconversions discovered are managed in different ways, varying from one centre to another.

Objective: To describe the habits of the specialised centres in France and propose means to reduce the heterogeneity.