Optimum investments in project evaluations: When are cost-effectiveness analyses cost-effective?

Abstract

Abstract

This manuscript extends the classical models of the value of information to ask whether a hospital's net financial return is ever maximized by a cost- effectiveness analysis of retrospective data when watchful waiting and a full randomized clinical trial are alternative methodologies. The manuscript demonstrates that (1) some small-scale retrospective analyses may negatively affect net income and (2) under some conditions, larger-scale retrospective analyses may maximize net income. The manuscript also suggests that risk aversion increases the value of information and therefore the optimum expenditure on a project evaluation.

Department

Health Management and Policy

Publication Date

12-1996

Journal Title

Journal of Medical Systems

Publisher

Springer

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1007/BF02257282

Document Type

Article

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