A cost/benefit analysis of patient education

This article's purpose was to report the effects of a formalized patient education program in reducing implications and healthcare expenditures. In our current healthcare environment, caregivers must evaluate each service or treatment rendered in light of its impact or outcome. Impact or outcome must refer to a positive influence on the person receiving the service or treatment. In addition, in our era of extreme pressures to contain healthcare expenditures, the resultant benefit should be that of economic as well as therapeutic yield. The regulation of hospitals by a prospective payment system compels healthcare administrators to scrutinize available resources with a commitment to offer quality programs in patient care. How much healthcare can the consumer afford? Responsible cost benefit analysis will give healthcare providers a strong stance to justify programs. Using a study of pediatric patients with the same diagnosis and initial treatment, the authors evaluate the cost/benefit of a patient-education intervention. Two groups of patients, one with the patient education and the other without, are evaluated as to their utilization of healthcare services resulting from noncompliant behavior. There is less of an incidence of complications with the formalized patient-education program. In deriving a benefit to cost ratio of over seven to one, the effectiveness of the program was demonstrated. People assuming responsibility for their own health are a benefit to society at large.