cost effective

cost effective

 in the health sciences, pertaining to a situation in which funds spent to improve the health and well-being of a client or group reduces the overall cost of care. Increased productivity produces more output for the same input or produces the same output for less input. A change in practice that results in the same patient outcomes but uses fewer resources is cost effective. Health prevention and promotion strategies save potential costs in the long run. Nurse researchers have been able to demonstrate that the care of clinical nurse specialists can save significant health care costs without reducing the quality of care.