Identifying, evaluating and implementing cost‐effective skill mix

If economic evaluation demonstrates that skill mix changes reduce cost and improve or maintain patient outcomes, this is strong evidence that these changes should be implemented, and incentives may be required to attract the necessary personnel.

Abstract

Economic evaluation has been under-utilized in studies of skill mix. If economic evaluation demonstrates that skill mix changes reduce cost and improve or maintain patient outcomes, this is strong evidence that these changes should be implemented. Incentives may be required to attract the necessary personnel. This in itself may influence the cost of changing the skill mix and therefore the situation should be monitored as both costs and effectiveness can alter over time.