Facility cost analysis in outpatient plastic surgery: implications for the academic health center.

Background: The authors examined the economic patterns of outpatient aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgical procedures performed within an academic health center.

Methods: For fiscal years 2003 and 2004, the University of Michigan Health System's accounting database was queried to identify all outpatient plastic surgery cases (aesthetic and reconstructive) from four surgical facilities. Total facility charges, cost, revenue, and margin were calculated for each case.

Hospital volume outcome and discharge disposition of burn patients.

Background: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the impact of hospital clinical volume on patient outcomes (i.e., in-hospital mortality, length of stay) and discharge disposition of burn patients using a large nationally representative database.

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is more profitable than open repair based on contribution margin per day.

Background: Earlier studies have reported that endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (EAAA) repair yields lower total profit margins than open AAA (OAAA) repair. This study compared EAAA versus OAAA based on contribution margin per day, which may better measure profitability of new clinical technologies. Contribution margin equals revenue less variable direct costs (VDCs).

The added cost of urgent cholecystectomy to health systems.

Background: The purpose of this study is to assess the cost and reimbursement differential between elective and urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Study Design: All visits for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ICD-9 Code 51.23) to the University of Michigan Health System were reviewed for 1997 to 2001 (n = 752).

Aeromedical service: how does it actually contribute to the mission?

Background: Aeromedical services are important but poorly understood elements of many health systems. The purpose of this study is to describe the value of aeromedical transportation to our health system.

Methods: We profiled the top 10 admitting services for our Survival Flight (SF) aeromedical patients, the top 10 inpatient diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) for SF patients, SF's contribution to the top 10 revenue DRGs, SF revenue by payer, downstream revenue of fiscal year (FY) 1997 SF patients, FY01 downstream revenue of SF patients transported during the previous 5 years, and both intensive care unit stay and overall length of stay of SF patients.

Synthesis and Properties of IrRe(2)(&mgr;-H)(2)(CO)(9)(eta(5)-C(9)H(7)).

The slow addition of Re(2)(&mgr;-H)(2)(CO)(8) to a solution of Ir(CO)(eta(2)-C(8)H(14))(eta(5)-C(9)H(7)) in hexane at reflux provides IrRe(2)(&mgr;-H)(2)(CO)(9)(eta(5)-C(9)H(7)) (1) in 80% yield. The molecular structure of 1 shows an IrRe(2) triangle incorporating one Ir(CO)(eta(5)-C(9)H(7)) and two Re(CO)(4) fragments. The strongly different Ir-Re distances suggest that one hydride ligand bridges one Ir-Re edge and the other hydride bridges the Re-Re edge.