[University benchmarking. A current status analysis].

Lump sum reimbursement and the resulting concentration of medical treatment in maximum care clinics have led to substantial increase in economic pressure on university hospitals. Nearly all hospitals have introduced business ratios to economically judge each department. In order to evaluate the validity and comparability the business ratios of seven university traumatology departments were evaluated. Structural data as well as cost calculation results in different cost groups were evaluated. Major differences could be identified despite the fact that the cost calculations were all based on the same method (InEK method). In particular the costs for distribution to other medical specialties such as radiology or anesthesiology differed widely. Costs for infrastructure also showed a great variation. Differences in efficiency cannot be the only cause for these discrepancies and lacking standardization of cost calculation methodology is also another major cause. All the business ratios analyzed must be looked at critically and unless a thoroughly standardized methodology of cost calculation is implemented, cost ratios will have a limited potential for hospital benchmarking.