Abstract:
The purpose of this research was to analyze the costs of nursing activities at the four in-patient units of the Yuwaprasatwaitayoprathum Hospital. The analysis was performed by using the Activity-Based Costing system (ABC) separated from its existing accounting system (Stand-alone Personal Computer Based System). Focus group discussion was conducted with 11 nurse administrators to spell out the macro activities. The activities and activity drivers were then identified. There were 19 primary activities and 1 secondary activity that were assigned into 12 activity pools or activity centers. Collection of overhead cost and cost allocation to activities were performed under appropriate criteria of high benefits and low cost of the measurement. The thirteen form instruments were developed for data collection in the period of 3 months, from January to March 2002. Major findings were as follows: all cost of nursing service was ฿3,679,554.64. The cost divided into direct labor cost ฿2,045,058.14 (55.58%) and overhead cost (include medicine) ฿1,634,496.50 (44.42%). The ratio of labor cost among professional nurses: technical nurses: nurse aides was 1.28: 1: 1.26. Social development and rehabilitation consumed highest labor cost ฿515,720.28 with overhead cost consumed mostly in general caring ฿397,389.72. Total cost of social development and rehabilitation was the highest ฿877,344.55 and general caring was secondary level ฿792,860.70. Cost per patient day was highest in caring to the family of ฿1,274.32 and discharge was secondary level ฿1,037.44. Cost per batch was highest in self-care training ฿3,054.58 and social development and rehabilitation was secondary level ฿1,642.97. Highest total cost in patient level 1 and level 4 was general caring and in patient level 2 and level 3 was social development and rehabilitation ฿16,258.95; ฿68,834.28; ฿575,378.55; and ฿226,289.04 respectively. Highest cost per patient day in patient level 1 and level 2 was admission and in patient level 3 and level 4 was self-care training ฿723.13; ฿672.65; ฿302.54; and ฿201.35 respectively.