Marinelli PL, Leogrande L, Oradei M, Marchetti M, Cicchetti A, Catananti C; Health Technology Assessment International. Meeting (2nd : 2005 : Rome, Italy).
Ital J Public Health. 2005; 2: 124.
HTA Unit, Medical Directorate, University Hospital "A. Gemelli", Largo "Agostino Gemelli", n. 8, Roma, 168 Italy Tel: +39-3475413817, +39 0630155919, +39 0630155917, Fax: Fax: +39 0635510587, E-mail: pierluigi.marinelli@libero.it
Introduction: In the process of rationalising health care resources, investment planning in biomedical technologies plays a key role. Therefore, this plan must be supported by an adequate process of evaluation: this entails the use of a multidisciplinary tool, which is able to ease decision making processes for the allocating of available resources. This method is known world-wide as Health Technology Assessment, HTA. Aims: A.Gemelli University Hospital Directorate decided to adopt HTA methodologies in the Biotechnologies Investment Plan 2004-2006, with the aim to identify the real needs for technologies in the hospital, while at the same time improving the appropriateness of performances and the quality of the services provided. Methods: The Unitagrave; di Valutazione delle Tecnologie (UVT), which is the Hospital Unit responsible for assessing technologies, has provided all the clinicians with a means of requesting the acquisition of technologies via the intranet, using an intranet form. Based on the main principles of HTA, UVT assesses each request according to the following criteria: 1) Appropriateness, 2) Internal coherence, 3) Alignment with the organisation objectives, and 4) Efficiency. Results: The first analysis involved examining the appropriateness of the requests made: after UVT's evaluation, the total cost of requests decreased by 8%, and the costs for high priority requests' decreased by 62%. In addition, a computerised management system processed large quantities of information which accompanied the requests, highlighting other advantages such as: 1) the possibility of studying overlapping phenomena, 2) budget planning is more targeted and precise, and 3) better guidelines for the procurement process.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Biomedical Technology
- Guidelines as Topic
- Health Services Needs and Demand
- Hospitals, University
- Investments
- Technology Assessment, Biomedical
- economics
- methods
- hsrmtgs
UI: 103141064
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