A comparison of the investment in hospital-based obstetrical ultrasound in Wales and Washington State


  • Abstract

    The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the way Britain and the United States invest in and deploy a new medical technology. We used structured interviews to obtain information on the technical sophistication and approximate replacement value of all hospital-based obstetrical ultrasound machines in every maternity hospital in Washington state and Wales. The supply of hospital-based ultrasound machines–approximately two machines per 1,000 births–was similar in both countries. Wales had fewer advanced ultrasound machines than Washington state, and they were based exclusively in high-volume district general hospitals; there were no obstetric ultrasound machines in the private sector. In Washington state, the majority of advanced machines were in small and medium-sized hospitals, and many private offices had ultrasound machines. The approximate replacement value of hospital-based machines was three times as high per birth in Washington state as in Wales. In the case of obstetrical ultrasound, centralization of facilities, a relatively small private sector, and global budgeting lead to lower expenditures per patient within the National Health Service without compromising access to care.


  • Authors:

    Rosenblatt RA, Dawson AJ, Larson EH, Tressler CJ, Jones A, Hart LG, Nesbitt TS

  • Journal/Publisher:

    Int J Technol Assess Health Care

  • Edition:

    Jan 1995. 11(3):571-584

  • Link to Article

    Access the article here: Int J Technol Assess Health Care

  • Citation:

    Rosenblatt RA, Dawson AJ, Larson EH, Tressler CJ, Jones A, Hart LG, Nesbitt TS. A Comparison Of The Investment In Hospital-based Obstetrical Ultrasound In Wales And Washington State. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. Jan 1995 11(3):571-584