George Rupert Palmer - DRG carrier and champion

Liane Turner and Stephanie D Short

Australian Health Review 22(2) 86 - 102
Published: 1999

Abstract

Prompted by the retirement of the distinguished health economist, researcher and academic,Professor George Rupert Palmer, the purpose of this paper is to reflect upon and acknowledgeone of his many contributions to health services research and development. By employing aconceptual framework devised by Kimberly and de Pouvourville (1993) for analysis of thediffusion of innovations, this paper argues that Palmer played a crucial role in the diffusioninto and within Australia of a particular casemix method, diagnosis related groups (DRGs).Textual and interview evidence presented in the paper supports the identification of GeorgeRupert Palmer as the principal carrier of DRGs into Australia, and as one of its keychampions within Australia.To many, Professor George Palmer is one of the 'founding fathers' of casemix inAustralia. A health economist, he has led much of the research underpinning itsintroduction into the health care system (Galbraith 1993, p 14).

Full text doi:10.1071/AH990086

© AHHA 1999