Health economic analyses with routinely collected basic data

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Empirical studies on the comprehensive use of inpatient psychiatric care, outpatient mental health services, and community based mental health services by psychiatric patients are still rare in Germany. Usually data collection is carried out by exploring selected samples. However, since the introduction of electronic documentation systems in mental health services, extensive patient-related routine treatment data has become available. Possibly health economic questions can be answered by using routinely collected basic data. The Centres for Psychiatry Suedwuerttemberg as well as affiliated out-patient psychiatric clinics and community based mental health services routinely collect basic data using electronic documentation systems. For 2008, a dataset was created which maps the actual cost of comprehensive use of mental health care in a catchment area.