Understanding Concepts Related to Health Economics in Urology

Financial considerations play a major role in health care decisions both directly and indirectly. As new technologies and medications are introduced there will be an increased scrutiny into the likely benefit of these treatments. At the same time any decision to incorporate these new approaches to management of disease will also include an attempt to evaluate the likely financial impact. Cost analyses will be necessary to help in this type of decision making whether at the patient, hospital or societal level. For urologists it will be important to understand the concepts that underlie such decision making.