Cost-benefit study of school nursing services

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Economics
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• School districts nationwide have reduced on-site health services provided by qualified school nurses.
• There is a need for cost-benefit data to inform policymakers about the value of school nursing services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the Massachusetts Essential School Health Services (ESHS) program.
• To demonstrate the economic value of school health services delivered by full-time registered nurses.

Main Methods:

• A cost-benefit analysis was performed comparing the ESHS program to a no-nursing-service scenario.
• Data from the ESHS program report and other studies were used for 477,163 students across 78 school districts (2009-2010).
• Costs included nurse staffing and supplies; benefits included savings in medical care, and reduced productivity loss for parents and teachers.

Main Results:

• The ESHS program cost $79.0 million and generated an estimated $20.0 million in medical cost savings, $28.1 million in parents' productivity savings, and $129.1 million in teachers' productivity savings.
• The program yielded a net benefit of $98.2 million, with a benefit-cost ratio of $2.20 gained for every dollar invested.
• Eighty-nine percent of simulations indicated a net benefit from the program.

Conclusions:

• School nursing services, as exemplified by the ESHS program, represent a cost-beneficial use of public funds.
• Policymakers should consider these findings when making decisions about allocating resources for school nursing positions.
• Investing in school nurses offers significant economic advantages and supports student well-being.