Learning by doing in healthcare: Lessons from COVID-19
A positive relationship between hospital volumes and health outcomes for certain types of medical care is well documented.
Most economic literature has focused on econometric challenges around identification of causal effects in the presence of endogenous selection (‘selective referral’).
In contrast, few studies have explored the causal mechanisms by which volume affects outcomes.
Learning-by-doing (LBD) describes the accumulation of knowledge through experience and is a potential mechanism by which hospitals improve their provision of care over time.
The aim of this study, to be discussed today, is to test the theory of LBD using as a case study hospital treatment for COVID-19 complications during the first wave of the pandemic, when hospitals had no prior experience with this disease and there were no standardised treatment pathways or approved vaccines.
We exploit exogenous regional variation in infection rates over time to identify the effect of cumulative volume of COVID patients treated on 90-day mortality. Our results suggests that experience matters: for every 100 additional COVID-19 patients that a hospital treated prior to the index admission, the probability of death decreases by 0.4 percentage points.
Speaker
Professor Nils Gutacker (University of York)Nils Gutacker is a Professor of Health Economics at the Centre for Health Economics, University of York. His current research focuses on the design and effectiveness of (non-)financial incentives, industrial organisation of health care markets, unwarranted variation in health care provision, and health inequalities. Nils holds a PhD in Economics and a MSc in Health Economics, both from the University of York, and a BSc in Health Care Management from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. |
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CHE weekly seminar series
As part of the Centre for Health Economics’ vibrant research culture, we host a weekly seminar series. Visiting and invited researchers present current research relating to the economics of health and wellbeing, and the healthcare sector. Visitors are welcome to join these sessions where discussion and debate is encouraged. We aim to present all seminars in-person and also on Zoom.
Event Details
- Date:
- 7 December 2022 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
- Venue:
- Caulfield campus, Building H, Level 9, Room H921
- Categories:
- CHE Seminar; General; Health Economics
Description
A positive relationship between hospital volumes and health outcomes for certain types of medical care is well documented.
Most economic literature has focused on econometric challenges around identification of causal effects in the presence of endogenous selection (‘selective referral’).
In contrast, few studies have explored the causal mechanisms by which volume affects outcomes.
Learning-by-doing (LBD) describes the accumulation of knowledge through experience and is a potential mechanism by which hospitals improve their provision of care over time.
The aim of this study, to be discussed today, is to test the theory of LBD using as a case study hospital treatment for COVID-19 complications during the first wave of the pandemic, when hospitals had no prior experience with this disease and there were no standardised treatment pathways or approved vaccines.
We exploit exogenous regional variation in infection rates over time to identify the effect of cumulative volume of COVID patients treated on 90-day mortality. Our results suggests that experience matters: for every 100 additional COVID-19 patients that a hospital treated prior to the index admission, the probability of death decreases by 0.4 percentage points.
Speaker
Professor Nils Gutacker (University of York)Nils Gutacker is a Professor of Health Economics at the Centre for Health Economics, University of York. His current research focuses on the design and effectiveness of (non-)financial incentives, industrial organisation of health care markets, unwarranted variation in health care provision, and health inequalities. Nils holds a PhD in Economics and a MSc in Health Economics, both from the University of York, and a BSc in Health Care Management from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. |
|
CHE weekly seminar series
As part of the Centre for Health Economics’ vibrant research culture, we host a weekly seminar series. Visiting and invited researchers present current research relating to the economics of health and wellbeing, and the healthcare sector. Visitors are welcome to join these sessions where discussion and debate is encouraged. We aim to present all seminars in-person and also on Zoom.