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True Cost of Operating Room Time: Implications for an Orthopaedic Trauma Service
Alastair E Moody1, Taylor P Gurnea1, Craig P Shul1
1University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV; and.
Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma
|November 6, 2019
Summary
The operating cost per minute for an orthopaedic trauma operating room is $16.21. This figure, excluding professional fees and implants, is crucial for financial planning in trauma care.
Area of Science:
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Health economics
Background:
- Accurate cost assessment is vital for resource allocation in specialized surgical settings.
- Understanding operating room (OR) expenses is key for financial sustainability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the precise operating cost per minute for an orthopaedic trauma operating room.
- To provide data for financial evaluations and contract negotiations.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective economic analysis was conducted at a Level II Trauma Center.
- Data were extracted from the hospital cost-accounting system.
- Direct fixed costs, direct variable costs, and hospital overhead were analyzed.
Main Results:
- The total operating cost per minute was calculated to be $16.21.
- This includes $2.77 in direct variable costs, $2.47 in direct fixed costs, and $10.97 in hospital overhead.
- Professional fees and costs of implants/soft goods were excluded from this calculation.
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first documented per-minute cost for orthopaedic trauma ORs.
- This financial data is essential for valuing dedicated ORs, negotiating contracts, and managing capital expenditures.
