Abstract
Laser applications are developing rapidly in medicine. Virtually every specialty of surgery, and a number of medical specialties, are using the laser for several conditions, and the number of conditions treated seems to grow every day. This fact is of concern to policy-makers in a time of limited resources for health care. Increasingly, health policy decisions are guided by costeffectiveness studies of medical applications. This paper reviews evidence of cost-effectiveness for a number of relatively mature laser applications. In general, although available studies are suggestive of benefit, effectiveness has been demonstrated for relatively few laser applications. Little reliable cost information has been developed, although out-patient therapy and shortened length of stay in hospital seem to be demonstrated for several conditions. © 1990 Baillière Tindall.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 253-269 |
Journal | Lasers in Medical Science |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 1990 |
Externally published | Yes |