Cost analysis of mobile radiography services for nursing home residents in Southeast Norway

Telemedicine applications, such as a mobile radiography service, provide a new way of organizing healthcare services. In order to provide safe and personalised care for nursing home residents during X-ray examinations, mobile radiography services have been implemented. The objective of this study was to analyse the costs of X-ray examinations and treatments for nursing home residents when comparing hospital-based imaging with a combination of hospital-based imaging and a mobile radiography service in Southeast Norway.

A decision model was developed using the software TreeAge Pro. The model included two alternatives: the mobile radiography service in combination with hospital-based imaging and hospital-based imaging alone. The treatment needed based on the examination results could be given either in the nursing home or at the hospital. Probabilities and costs in the model were derived from previous research, various reports, and hospital data from the Southeast region of Norway. Monte Carlo simulations of 1000 residents were run through the model, and statistical analyses were applied.

The analysis showed a mean cost of €2790 per resident for the hospital-based service alone. For mobile and hospital-based services combined, the mean cost was €1946 per resident, including examinations and the immediate treatment given. This difference in costs was significant (p < 0.001).

A mobile radiography service in nursing homes provides a safe, high quality health care service. The result of this study showed there was a 30% cost-reduction by implementing the mobile radiography service.