Discovering medical resource utilization in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using rule-based method.

TKA is a highly effective means of treating (advanced knee arthritis) degenerative joint disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that a high surgical volume for total joint arthroplasty reduces morbidity and improved economic outcome, these methods for themselves are fraught with complexity, uncertainty and non-linear problem in terms of medical datasets may be unable to more accurately finding important information. As medical datasets often include a large number of features (attributes), some of which are irrelevant, and therefore it cannot intuitively understand the corresponding to main factors which affecting the resource utilizations of healthcare.

Association between provider volume and comorbidity on hospital utilization and outcomes of total hip arthroplasty among National Health Insurance enrollees.

Background/purpose: The impact of provider volume, comorbidity and adverse outcomes on hospital utilization of total hip arthroplasty (THA) has not yet been studied scientifically in Taiwan. This study aimed to examine the relationship between surgeon/hospital volume, perioperative complications, acute infections and hospital utilization for patients who underwent primary (THA).

Methods: We analyzed National Health Insurance (NHI) annual reimbursement data for all hospital admissions due to primary THA between January 2005 and December 2006.

Effects of provider patient volume and comorbidity on clinical and economic outcomes for total knee arthroplasty: a population-based study.

Our study examined how provider patient volume, postoperative infection rate, and perioperative complication affect length of stay, hospitalization charges, and adverse outcomes for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The study sample included patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty at all acute care hospitals in Taiwan between 2000 and 2003. Two economic indicators revealed linear associations with surgeon's patient volume, hospital's patient volume, and comorbidity score.