In 1999, a demonstration project of evidence-based clinical guidelines for treating pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) was implemented in three hospitals in Tver Oblast under the Quality Assurance Project/Russia. In parallel, an operations research study was conducted to measure the impact of using new guidelines on the cost of hospital care for PIH. The study aimed to determine the extent to which characteristics of the new guidelines - including more streamlined use of drugs, reduction in the length-of-stay - would change, most likely decrease, costs. The study specifically evaluated care provided to mothers. (excerpt)