Discussion
Calculation of the cost price based on unit level,
batch level, hospital level and sustaining level costs
are one of the important conclusions of this research.
For example, the cost price of the occupancy
bed day in the emergency department equals
to $24.56 of which 63% ($15.63) has been allocated
from activity centers services. Cost price in “sinuses
photography” is $2.21 of which 39% ($.87)
has been allocated from them too. The high
amount of indirect costs(hospital and sustaining
level costs ) indicates that the capacity of activity
centers are not used properly because indirect costs
are related to preparing facilities and have a fixed
character. If the volume of services is high, it ultimately
decreases the cost price in each unit of services.
Duffy (2008) suggested that ABC method data
compared to traffic method is very suitable and
applicable for decision-making (10). His study in
Ireland hospitals in 2006 showed the maximum
50% of cost price was related to indirect cost. In
Canadian hospitals showed that the portion of
indirect costs in cost price of services is near to
45% (11). Meanwhile,the study performed in one
of the Indian laboratory, showed Cost price per
test decreases as total number of samples increases.
Cost price per test is higher for specialized
tests, which are interpreted and done by a
pathologist (14). These findings show in the situation
in which this study was conducted the hospital
did not use resources properly.
The difference of cost price in ABC method and
tariff method is another result of this research.
For example, the cost of the occupancy bed day in
the surgical unit is calculated about $17.53, but the
enacted tariff for this bed is $9.94 with an unfavorable
price deviation equal to $7.6 It is considered
that all deviations are negative. A study in