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The charges for seizures in the pediatric emergency room: a single center study
Elena Caron1, Catherine E Wheless1, Andrea B Patters2
1Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Comprehensive Epilepsy Program and Neuroscience Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee; Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.
Insights
Emergency department visits for seizures in children incur significant costs. Home treatment with abortive medications could be a cost-saving alternative, reducing overall healthcare expenses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Health Economics
Background:
- Emergency department (ED) visits for recurrent seizures represent a substantial financial burden.
- Home-based abortive medication interventions offer potential cost savings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the pharmacoeconomic benefits of at-home interventions for seizure emergencies in children.
- To assess the direct charges associated with pediatric seizure ED visits.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 90 pediatric patients treated for seizures in the ED.
- Categorization of patients based on seizure type (febrile vs. nonfebrile) and history (existing vs. new-onset).
- Analysis of hospital charges by the accounting department.
Main Results:
- Total ED charges for 90 patients amounted to $219,945.
- Charges ranged from $370 for a patient with no history of febrile seizures to $17,126 for a patient with nonfebrile, recurrent seizures.
- Significant cost variations were observed based on seizure characteristics and history.
Conclusions:
- The study provides crucial data for comparing ED visit costs with the expenses of preventive home medications.
- Findings support the economic rationale for utilizing at-home abortive therapies like rectal diazepam or intranasal midazolam.
- Implementing home interventions can potentially reduce healthcare expenditures for seizure management.
Background:
The direct charges for emergency department visits resulting from recurrent seizures are significant, and home intervention with abortive medications can be cost-saving. Over a 1-year period, we evaluated children with seizures who were seen in the emergency department, stabilized, and released. The information is necessary to assess the pharmacoeconomic advantages of at-home interventions for seizure emergencies.
Methods:
We did a retrospective chart review of 90 patients and divided them into febrile versus nonfebrile seizures and existing versus new-onset seizure disorder. The hospital accounting department performed a charge analysis.
Results And Conclusion:
The total charges for all 90 patients treated for seizures in the emergency department were $219,945. The minimum was $370, for a patient with no history of febrile seizures. The maximum was $17,126, for a patient with a nonfebrile seizure and a history of seizures. This information allows a comparison with the cost of preventive medications, such as diazepam rectal gel or intranasal midazolam.
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