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FYI - information on book on DRGs from the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies which is now freely available on-line Best wishes David McDaid London School of Economics and Political Science http://www.euro.who.int/en/who-we-are/partners/observatory/studies/diagn osis-related-groups-in-europe Edited by Reinhard Busse, Alexander Geissler, Wilm Quentin and Miriam Wiley Published by Open University Press European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies Series 2011, xxx + 538 pages ISBN 978 0 33 524557 4 Diagnosis-related group systems were introduced throughout Europe for similar reasons: to increase transparency, and to improve efficiency and assure quality in hospitals. After more than a decade of experience with using diagnosis-related groups in Europe, it's time to consider whether their extensive use has contributed towards achieving these aims. This book summarizes the experiences with and developments in the diagnosis-related group systems in the 12 countries in the EuroDRG project (Austria, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden). Part One looks at the key issues of efficiency, quality, unintended effects and technological innovation, and Part Two provides clearly structured and detailed information about the most important system characteristics in each of the 12 participating countries. Both the overview of the key issues and the experience in countries will be useful for countries and regions that want to introduce, extend, or optimize their diagnosis-related group systems. The book is addressed to health policy-makers and researchers from Europe and beyond. Please access the attached hyperlink for an important electronic communications disclaimer: http://lse.ac.uk/emailDisclaimer