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The effect of precertification on the rate of hospitalization of patients with low back pain. A case study comparing hospitalization rates of patients covered by workers' compensation and no-fault automobile insurance in New York State.

This report is a study of the rates of hospitalization of two similar groups of patients with a diagnosis of medical low back pain resulting from an injury. It is based on a 7-year experience with utilization review. None of the patients had met the minimal criteria for hospitalization described by the "Reference Criteria for Short-Stay Hospital Review" of the American Medical Association (1). One of these two groups was required to undergo a preservice review (precertification) before hospitalization. The other group did not undergo this precertification. This study tests the hypotheses that there is a significant incidence of unnecessary hospitalization of patients with medical low back pain and that precertification does reduce this rate of hospitalization. It also tests the hypothesis that race, age, and gender correlate with this unnecessary hospitalization. Further, it examines the relationship between the precertification process and the time of admission and the length of stay once admitted. The methods used are defined, and the controversy surrounding precertification and unnecessary hospitalization in general, and for low back pain in particular, is described.

Age Factors↗

Isolated rupture of the subscapularis tendon.

Sixteen consecutive patients were managed operatively for repair of an isolated traumatic rupture of the subscapularis tendon in the absence of avulsion of the lesser tuberosity. All of the patients were men. The diagnosis was made for each patient on the basis of the clinical examination and was confirmed by imaging studies and operative exploration. The operative treatment consisted of mobilization of the subscapularis after exploration and protection of the axillary nerve, transosseous reinsertion of the tendon to a trough created at the lesser tuberosity, closure of the rotator interval, and protection of the shoulder for six weeks postoperatively. The average duration of follow-up was forty-three months (range, twenty-four to eighty-four months). Thirteen patients subjectively rated the result as excellent or good. The average functional score of the shoulder, as assessed according to the system of Constant, was 82 per cent of the average age and gender-matched normal value. Active flexion was normal in twelve patients, was decreased by 15 degrees or less in three, and was severely limited in one patient. The capacity of the patients to work in their original occupations had increased from an average of 59 per cent of full capacity preoperatively to an average of 95 per cent postoperatively (p = 0.006). Operative treatment proved to be economically sound within the Swiss National Accident Insurance system. The quality of the result did not depend on the capacity for work at the time of the operation, on the type of work in which the patient was engaged, on the state of the biceps, or on the duration of follow-up. Conversely, the results were less successful when there was an increased delay from the time of the injury to the time of the operative repair.

Adult↗

[The physician in the dilemma between confidentiality and mandatory reporting of occupational diseases].

If a physician may reasonably suspect an occupational disease after examining his or her patient he is liable by German law to report this directly to the statutory accident insurance body or the Government institution responsible for the medical safety of working places, in accordance with section 202 of the Federal German social legislation code VII. This legal obligation to officially report an occupational disease is based on weighing the pros and cons in respect of balancing out an individual's right to privacy on the one hand and the (in this case predominant) public safety interests on the other. Legislation does not provide for the individual to effectively object to such reporting and hence the physician is obliged to report even if the patient objects. When doing so the physician does not violate his legal obligation to observe medical professional secrecy as defined according to section 203 German Penal Code by section 4 of the German professional medical code.

Confidentiality↗

Managed occupational health care in an HMO.

This paper describes the efforts of an HMO to improve its delivery of occupational health services. Customer needs identification, occupational health structure, data systems, case management, clinical guidelines, and quality management are outlined. Our experience suggests that high-quality occupational health services can be integrated into managed care systems thereby offering cost-effective care to large numbers of workers. Comparing 1991 to 1995, physician authorization of total disability days was reduced 17.9% per disability case (p < .0001). Based on July 1994 to June 1995 Oregon State Accident Insurance Fund (SAIF Corporation) data, HMO average total claim cost was $916/claim representing respectively, a 21% and a 20% reduced cost compared to two PPO model programs (MCO 00 and MCO 01). Patient satisfaction data indicated that 90% of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the physician they saw. The savings appear to be due to cost-effective treatment and rapid return to work.

Case Management↗