BIOMED 2 - EURICUS III. The implementation of guidelines for budget control and cost calculation, and their effect on the quality of management of intensive care units in the countries of the European Union

As far as costing and budgeting procedures are concerned, a

non-systematic diversity across intensive care units (ICUs) and European

countries has been observed mainly characterised by the absence of any

standardised operationalisation of relevant concepts. Therefore this

"reinforced concerted action" will (a) develop guidelines for the

standardisation and harmonisation of budgeting and costing procedures in

ICUs in Europe; (b) develop instruments to assess the quality of management

in ICUs (medical directors and head nurses); (c) explore the effects of a

training about the costing and budgeting guidelines, and their

implementation on the cost-effectiveness of ICUs; and (d) explore their

effects on the quality of management of ICUs.