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Evaluations assessing precertification by nurse gatekeepers and onsite monitoring by nurse sentinels report inconclusive unique effects of these programs on the utilization, expense, and appropriateness of inpatient medical care. By applying the fixed- and random-effects paradigm of meta-analysis, this article consolidates the results of all relevant quasi-experiments conducted by an evaluation group of a large private insurer from 1986 to 1990. It determines the difference in effect between the target and comparison groups, reports this effect and its statistical range, and determines the pooled effect and its range. The random effects indicate that precertification will reduce admissions, and onsite, concurrent review will reduce length of stay, bed days, and inpatient ancillary expense. The precertification and onsite programs may reduce negative iatrogenic effects, thereby enhancing the patients' well-being. If applied to privately insured populations who are still served on a fee-for-service basis, the gatekeeper and sentinel effects of these programs may reduce utilization and expense; however, inference of these results to Medicare fee-for-service care remains problematical.

There is a need for better education of diabetics. This leads to better quality care by the patient, and better quality of care by health professionals. Economic advantages of patient education are discussed.

The center for Pharmacodynamic Research represents a novel approach to academic-industrial research agreements that may be a useful model for others to pursue. It is designed to take advantage of the strengths of the company and the university in order to enhance the research conducted and to provide benefits to both. At the same time, it takes into account the responsibility of the university to provide graduate education and the need of industry for scientists in the future. The center was only recently established, however, and must be considered work in progress. Although it has been successful to this point, its value will only be established by longevity and productivity. We have every confidence that it will prove to be a valuable experiment.