Reducing maintenance and repair costs in an interventional pulmonology program

Area of Science:

• Medical Engineering
• Pulmonology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Hospitals and academic institutions face economic pressures requiring efficient and cost-effective medical departments.
• Establishing new clinical programs, such as interventional pulmonary (IP), involves substantial costs for equipment acquisition and maintenance.
• This study examines equipment repair costs before and after launching an IP program and assesses the impact of an educational intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze equipment repair expenditures associated with an interventional pulmonary (IP) program.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program in mitigating these costs.
• To provide budgetary recommendations for IP program equipment maintenance.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of equipment repair costs over 3 years pre-IP program and 5 years post-IP program initiation.
• Assessment of an educational program designed to improve equipment handling skills among physicians and technical staff.
• University-based tertiary referral center setting.

Main Results:

• Equipment repair costs were $42 per procedure before the IP program.
• Costs increased by 21% to $51 per procedure in the first 3 years post-IP program.
• Following the educational program, costs decreased by 84% to $8 per procedure, with an estimated budget of $50 per procedure.

Conclusions:

• An educational program proved highly effective in reducing equipment repair costs for interventional pulmonary services.
• This study pioneers the provision of budgetary guidelines for IP program equipment repair.
• Demonstrates the significant cost-saving potential of targeted educational interventions in clinical settings.