Economics of head injuries

A Retrospective Analysis of Direct Medical Cost and Cost of Drug Therapy in Hospitalized Patients at Private Hospital in Western India

BACKGROUND

Pharmacoeconomics is analytical tool to know cost of hospitalization and its effect on health care system and society. In India, apart from the government health services, private sector also play big role to provide health care services.

OBJECTIVE

To study the direct medical cost and cost of drug therapy in hospitalized patients at private hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted at private hospital in a metro city of Western India. Total 400 patients' billing records were selected randomly for a period from 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2014. Data were collected from medical record of hospital with permission of medical director of hospital. Patients' demographic profile age, sex, diagnosis and various costs like ICU charge, ventilator charge, diagnostic charge, etc. were noted in previously formed case record form. Data were analysed by Z, x(2) and unpaired t-test.

RESULT

Patients were divided into less than 45 years and more than 45 year age group. They were divided into medical and surgical patients according to their admission in medical or surgical ward. Mortality, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission, patients on ventilator were significantly (p<0.05) higher in medical patients. Direct medical cost, ward bed charge, ICU bed charge, ventilator charge and cost of drug therapy per patient were significantly (p<0.05) higher in medical patients while operation theatre and procedural charge were significantly (p<0.05) higher in surgical patients. Cost of fibrinolytics, anticoagulants, cardiovascular drugs were significantly (p<0.05) higher in medical patients. Cost of antimicrobials, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), antiemetics, analgesics, were significantly (p<0.05) higher in surgical patients.

CONCLUSION

Ward bed charge, ICU bed charge, ventilator charge accounted more than one third cost of direct medical cost in all the patients. Cost of drug therapy was one fourth of direct medical cost. Antimicrobials cost accounted 33% of cost of drug therapy.

Bed wise cost analysis of in-patient treatment of brachial plexus injury at a Level I trauma Center in India

Aim:

The aim was to calculate, in monetary terms, total cost incurred by a Level I trauma center in providing in-patient care to brachial plexus injury patients during their preoperative and the postoperative stay.

Subjects and Methods:

All patients of brachial plexus injury admitted and discharged between January and December 2010 were included in the study. Total cost per bed was calculated under several cost heads in pre- and post-operative ward care. Intra-operative costs were excluded.

Results:

A total of 69 patients were admitted in the year 2010. Of these 60 were operated and the rest were planned conservative management. The total cost incurred by the trauma center in providing in-patient care to patients admitted in the ward, excluding high dependency unit, came out to be Rs. 3,650.00/patient/bed/day. Of this Rs. 2,234.645, the maximum amount was incurred in providing manpower alone. The average preoperative wait was 12 days (maximum 41 days and minimum 1-day). The average postoperative stay was 2 days. Total cost incurred in the preoperative period was Rs. 2,975,125 (US$ 59392) or Rs. 43,117/patient (US$ 861). It was Rs. 386,948 (US$ 7724) in the postoperative period (Rs. 6,449 or US$ 129/patient). Nine patients were not operated and had waited from 2 to 12 days before finally being planned for observant treatment. This itself cost the hospital Rs. 226,328 (US$ 4518).

Conclusion:

By just reducing the preoperative length of stay to 1-day the cost can be brought down by 93% for brachial plexus injury patients alone and the beds can be used to admit more critical patients.

Resource utilization in the management of traumatic brain injury patients in a critical care unit: An audit from rural setup of a developing country

Introduction:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are steadily increasing and are a major cause of mortality and morbidity, particularly in the young population, leading to the loss of life and productivity in the developing countries. Providing critical care to these patients with TBI is a challenge even in well-advanced centers in major cities of India. In the present study, we describe our experience of resource utilization in the management of TBI in a critical care unit (CCU) from a rural setup.

Materials and Methods:

All consecutive patients who were admitted from January 2007 to December 2009 in the CCU for the management of traumatic brain injury were included in the study. The case records of the patients were reviewed retrospectively, and data were collected on age, gender, severity of head injury, associated injuries, total CCU stay, total hospital stay, and outcome.

Results:

The total duration (days) of hospital stay was 8.96±6.16 days and a median of 8 days, and CCU stay was 3.77±6.34 days with a median of 2 days. No deaths occurred with mild head injury. A total of 73 (19.16%) deaths occurred in 381 admitted subjects in CCU. The risk of death among both the sexes is not significantly different, that is, odds ratio (OR) 1.032 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.351–3.03], so also the risk of death among the different age groups is also not significant having OR, 0.978 (95% CI, 0.954–1.00). The severity of head injury (mild, moderate, and severe) and CCU stay parameters had significant difference with risk of death [OR, 3.22 (95% CI, 2.49–4.16) and OR, 2.50 (95% CI, 1.9–3.2)].

Conclusions:

Apparently it seems possible to use the existing health care structures in rural areas to improve trauma care. It becomes particularly relevant in poor resource, developing countries, where health care facilities and access to specialized care units are still far below the acceptable standard, there is a need to compare with the reference group to further support the evidence.

The cost of universal health care in India: a model based estimate

INTRODUCTION

As high out-of-pocket healthcare expenses pose heavy financial burden on the families, Government of India is considering a variety of financing and delivery options to universalize health care services. Hence, an estimate of the cost of delivering universal health care services is needed.

METHODS

We developed a model to estimate recurrent and annual costs for providing health services through a mix of public and private providers in Chandigarh located in northern India. Necessary health services required to deliver good quality care were defined by the Indian Public Health Standards. National Sample Survey data was utilized to estimate disease burden. In addition, morbidity and treatment data was collected from two secondary and two tertiary care hospitals. The unit cost of treatment was estimated from the published literature. For diseases where data on treatment cost was not available, we collected data on standard treatment protocols and cost of care from local health providers.

RESULTS

We estimate that the cost of universal health care delivery through the existing mix of public and private health institutions would be INR 1713 (USD 38, 95%CI USD 18-73) per person per annum in India. This cost would be 24% higher, if branded drugs are used. Extrapolation of these costs to entire country indicates that Indian government needs to spend 3.8% (2.1%-6.8%) of the GDP for universalizing health care services.

CONCLUSION

The cost of universal health care delivered through a combination of public and private providers is estimated to be INR 1713 per capita per year in India. Important issues such as delivery strategy for ensuring quality, reducing inequities in access, and managing the growth of health care demand need be explored.

Costs and compensation of work-related injuries in British Columbia sawmills

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the costs of work-related injury in a cohort of sawmill workers in British Columbia from the perspective of the workers' compensation system.

METHODS

Hospital discharge records were extracted from 1989 to 1998 for a cohort of 5786 actively employed sawmill workers. A total of 173 work-related injury cases were identified from these records using the International classification of diseases-ninth revision (ICD-9) external cause of injury codes and the responsibility of payment schedule. Workers' compensation records were extracted and matched with hospital records by dates and ICD-9 diagnosis codes. All costs were converted into 1995 constant Canadian dollars using the Provincial General Consumer Price Index for the non-healthcare costs and Medical Consumer Price Index for the healthcare costs. A 5% discounting rate was applied to adjust for the time value of money. For the uncompensated cases, costs were imputed from the compensated cases using the median cost for a similar nature of injury.

RESULTS

370 hospitalisation events due to injury were captured, and by either of the two indicators (E Codes or payment schedules), 173 (47%) hospitalisation events due to injury, were identified as work related. The median healthcare cost was 4377 dollars and the median non-healthcare cost was 16,559 dollars for a work-related injury. The median non-healthcare and healthcare costs by injury were falls, 19,978 dollars and 5185 dollars; struck by falling object, 32,398 dollars and 8625 dollars; struck against, 12,667 dollars and 5741 dollars; machinery related, 26,480 dollars and 6643 dollars; caught in or between, 24,130 dollars and 4389 dollars; and overexertion, 7801 dollars and 2710 dollars. The total cost was 10,374,115 dollars for non-healthcare and 1,764,137 dollars for healthcare. The compensation agency did not compensate 874,871 dollars (8.4%) of the non-healthcare costs and 200,588 dollars (11.4%) of the healthcare costs.

CONCLUSION

Eliminating avoidable work-related injury events can save valuable resources.