Facility Comments

From MountainStar HealthCare

Comment for APR DRG 262: Inpatient Gallbladder Removal – Open (This comment applies to minor/moderate and major/extreme data.)

MountainStar Healthcare disputes the inclusion of facilities where surgeons performed fewer than five cases of gallbladder removals, either open or closed (laparoscopic), in the reports generated by the UDOH. Information about such a limited number of procedures does not represent enough data for analysis and the development of average charges.

As an example: when a patient with multiple underlying conditions and/or other factors undergoes a gallbladder removal, most clinicians would agree that an extended length of stay might be necessary to ensure high quality and safe patient care. However, if this type of case was the only one reported by a hospital in 2005, the charges for the patient’s unique situation could hardly be considered as a standard, or average, rate.

We support the UDOH reports and believe they provide useful information to the public. This report would accomplish the same objective with the qualifications noted above.

Comment for APR DRG 262 and 263: Inpatient Gallbladder Removal

Our analysis of 2003 and 2004 data confirms that average charges at Timpanogos Regional Hospital were comparable to hospitals throughout Utah. The higher level of charges in 2005 indicates that the reported patient cases were atypical in comparison to previous years.