Free choice, waiting time and length of stay in Norwegian hospitals
Type/no
A21/05
Author
Egil Kjerstad and Frode Kristiansen
In many countries’ public health care systems patients now have choice of hospital. Hospitals
compete by offering quality services. In Norway, freedom of choice was expected to reduce
waiting time for planned admissions. Using a data set of approximately 56,000 patients
classified in fourteen different Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) over the four year period
1999-2002, we find that migrating patients wait on average two months less for treatment
compared to patients choosing the hospital closest to their home municipality. We also find
that migrating patients stay approximately one day shorter in hospital compared to non-migrating
patients.
compete by offering quality services. In Norway, freedom of choice was expected to reduce
waiting time for planned admissions. Using a data set of approximately 56,000 patients
classified in fourteen different Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) over the four year period
1999-2002, we find that migrating patients wait on average two months less for treatment
compared to patients choosing the hospital closest to their home municipality. We also find
that migrating patients stay approximately one day shorter in hospital compared to non-migrating
patients.
Language
Written in english