Managing the relationship between quality and cost-effective burn care.

Abstract

In the modern era of fiscal prudence, managing the relationship between quality health care and cost reduction is a complex and challenging task for policy makers and health care providers. Health economics is an applied field that aids in assessing the feasibility of incorporating new interventions in a certain field. Applying these tools when allocating funds for burn care is even more complicated due to the lack of clinical data regarding the cost effectiveness of different aspects in burn care. Herein we review the existing literature and summarize different approaches for achieving cost effective health care in general and in burn care specifically. Special considerations to funds allocation in burn care are also discussed.