The cost to immunize during well-child visits

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Pediatric Primary Care
• Health Economics

Background:

• Ambulatory care settings face increasing demands for preventive services.
• Immunization coverage rates are often low in underserved areas.
• Patient-provider contact time has significantly increased.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incremental labor or opportunity costs of providing immunizations in ambulatory care.
• To analyze the impact of immunizations on well-child visit duration.

Main Methods:

• A time and motion analysis was conducted in 15 primary care practices (10 community clinics, 5 private practices).
• Practices were located in Health Professional Shortage Areas.
• Well-child visits with and without immunizations were compared based on duration.

Main Results:

• Immunizations represent an opportunity cost during well-child visits.
• Average patient-provider contact time was found to be longer than previously reported.
• The duration of well-child visits varied depending on whether immunizations were administered.

Conclusions:

• Increased immunization requirements impact the efficiency of primary care visits.
• Current healthcare system parameters, including visit time and reimbursement rates, require reevaluation.
• Optimizing clinic systems is crucial for meeting preventive care mandates.