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Cost and Use of Pasteurized Donor Human Milk at a Children's Hospital
Insights
Pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) is a cost-effective nutritional option for hospitalized infants. This study found PDHM to be a low-cost intervention compared to other treatments for infants in a children's hospital.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Nutrition
- Pediatric Healthcare Economics
- Human Milk Research
Background:
- Human milk is crucial for infant development, especially for hospitalized infants.
- Pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) serves as a vital alternative when maternal milk is unavailable.
- Understanding the utilization and cost of PDHM is essential for healthcare providers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cost and usage patterns of pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) in a pediatric hospital setting.
- To analyze the economic implications of PDHM as a nutritional intervention for hospitalized infants.
- To assess the role of PDHM within a hospital that promotes human milk consumption.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective descriptive cohort study design was employed.
- Data from 281 infants under one year old who received PDHM between 2011 and 2014 were analyzed.
- Electronic health records were reviewed for infant demographics, PDHM volume, duration of use, and length of stay.
Main Results:
- The average daily cost of PDHM was $29.19, with significant variation based on volume and duration of use.
- Infants received PDHM for a mean of 23 days, with a daily average consumption of 195 ml.
- 70% of infants receiving PDHM were in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Conclusions:
- Pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) represents a financially viable nutritional strategy for hospitalized infants.
- The cost of PDHM is comparatively low when contrasted with other medical interventions for infants.
- PDHM can be integrated effectively into hospital feeding protocols, supporting a strong human milk culture.
Objective:
To determine the cost and use of pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) at a children's hospital with a strong human milk culture.
Design:
A retrospective descriptive cohort study.
Setting:
A children's hospital in the northeastern region of the United States.
Participants:
Infants (N = 281) younger than 1 year of age at the time of hospitalization who received PDHM between January 2011 and November 2014. Infants older than 1 year of age at the time of hospitalization were excluded from the study sample.
Methods:
For each eligible infant, the following descriptive characteristics were abstracted from the electronic health record: gestational age, birth weight, primary diagnosis, unit/floor, total volume of PDHM fed to infant, total number of days the infant received PDHM, diet order on day of discharge, and total length of stay in days. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze all data.
Results:
Of the sample, 70% (n = 197/281) were cared for in the NICU and 30% (n = 84/281) were cared for outside of the NICU. The mean number of days an infant received PDHM was 23 days (range = 1-134 days) and the mean volume consumed daily was 195 ml (range = 6-1,335 ml). Using a purchase cost of U.S. $4.50 per ounce, the average purchase cost of PDHM per day was U.S. $29.19 (range = U.S. $0.90 to U.S. $200.23).
Conclusion:
PDHM is a low-cost intervention compared with many other interventions for the care of hospitalized infants.
