Acute hospital, community, and indirect costs of stroke associated with atrial fibrillation: population-based study.

Background And Purpose: No economic data from population-based studies exist on acute or late hospital, community, and indirect costs of stroke associated with atrial fibrillation (AF-stroke). Such data are essential for policy development, service planning, and cost-effectiveness analysis of new therapeutic agents.

Methods: In a population-based prospective study of incident and recurrent stroke treated in hospital and community settings, we investigated direct (healthcare related) and indirect costs for a 2-year period.

The future cost of stroke in Ireland: an analysis of the potential impact of demographic change and implementation of evidence-based therapies.

Background And Purpose: this paper examines the impact of demographic change from 2007 to 2021 on the total cost of stroke in Ireland and analyses potential impacts of expanded access to stroke unit care and thrombolytic therapy on stroke outcomes and costs.

Methods: total costs of stroke are estimated for the projected number of stroke cases in 2021 in Ireland. Analysis also estimates the potential number of deaths or institutionalised cases averted among incident stroke cases in Ireland in 2007 at different rates of access to stroke unit care and thrombolytic therapy.

Paying for hospital care: the experience with implementing activity-based funding in five European countries.

Following the US experience, activity-based funding has become the most common mechanism for reimbursing hospitals in Europe. Focusing on five European countries (England, Finland, France, Germany and Ireland), this paper reviews the motivation for introducing activity-based funding, together with the empirical evidence available to assess the impact of implementation. Despite differences in the prevailing approaches to reimbursement, the five countries shared several common objectives, albeit with different emphasis, in moving to activity-based funding during the 1990s and 2000s.

The cost of stroke and transient ischaemic attack in Ireland: a prevalence-based estimate.

Background: stroke is a leading cause of death and disability globally. The economic costs of stroke are high but not often fully quantified. This paper estimates the economic burden of stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA) in Ireland in 2007.

From prevention to nursing home care: a comprehensive national audit of stroke care.

Background: Many countries are developing national audits of stroke care. However, these typically focus on stroke care from acute event to hospital discharge rather than the full spectrum from prevention to long-term care. We report on a comprehensive national audit of stroke care in the community and hospitals in the Republic of Ireland.

Who's that sleeping in my bed? Potential and actual utilization of public and private in-patient beds in Irish acute public hospitals.

Objective: To examine the impact of the unusual public/private mix on public and private in-patient bed utilization within Irish acute public hospitals.

Methods: Data from the Department of Health and Children and the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry were used to estimate and compare potential and actual utilization of public and private designated in-patient beds in 54 acute public hospitals from 2000 to 2004.

Results: Private in-patients used more bed days than were potentially available to them in 14.

The Irish health system: developments in strategy, structure, funding and delivery since 1980.

As the Irish health system embarks upon its first major structural reorganisation in over 30 years, developments within this system over the past two decades are assessed. Real cuts in health expenditure achieved in the 1980s contrast sharply with the unprecedented increase in resources devoted to the health system in the 1990s. While successive statements of health strategy have prioritised the objectives of equity, efficiency and quality of care, questions arise regarding the return achieved with the increased investment.