Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Case Management Project for the Community-Dwelling Frail Elderly in Hong Kong

Antony Chi Tat Leung, Chi Pun Liu, Nelson Wing Sun Chow, Iris Chi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This randomized, controlled trial evaluates the cost-benefit of a case management project for older persons in Hong Kong. Case managers provided integrated care to participants in an intervention group while participants in a control group received conventional care only. Minimum Data Set-Home Care was used to assess health conditions, and hospital admissions were used as the basis to calculate health care costs. After the intervention, hospital admissions were reduced by 36.8% in the intervention group (p = .01) and 20.4% in the control group. The total number of acute hospital bed-days decreased by 53.1% in the intervention group (p < .05), compared to 4.4% in the control group. Compared with the control group, U.S.$170,448 was saved in acute hospital care and community health services in the intervention group. Well-planned case management interventions reduced hospital admissions and the length of stay in hospitals with corresponding savings in total health care costs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)70-85
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Applied Gerontology
Volume23
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2004

Keywords

  • Case management
  • Cost-benefit analysis
  • Hong Kong
  • Older persons

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