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Published on: June 26, 2012
The Cost of After-Hour Electroencephalography
John P Ney1, Marc R Nuwer1, Lawrence J Hirsch1
1School of Medicine (JPN), Boston University, MA; Departments of Neurology (MRN), University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine; Department of Neurology (LJH), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences (MB, JP), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA; and Neurodiagnostic Technology Programs (KT), Institute of Health Sciences, Hunt Valley, MD.
After-hour electroencephalography (EEG) is expensive due to staffing costs, creating a barrier for hospitals. This study models EEG costs, offering a tool to estimate expenses based on staffing and volume.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Economics
- Neurodiagnostics
Background:
- High costs of after-hour electroencephalography (EEG) limit access for hospitals with financial constraints.
- Understanding the specific cost elements of providing EEG services outside of regular working hours is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the cost components of delivering electroencephalography (EEG) services during after-hours.
- To develop a cost model for after-hour EEG services.
Main Methods:
- Utilized publicly available datasets to construct a cost model.
- Evaluated three common staffing scenarios: on-site technologist, on-call technologist, and hybrid models.
Main Results:
- Labor costs for EEG technologists are the primary expenditure, significantly influencing overall EEG costs.
- Costs are dependent on testing volume and the chosen staffing plan, with regional variations noted.
Conclusions:
- A model is presented to elucidate the substantial expense associated with after-hours EEG access.
- A cost calculator tool is provided to estimate EEG platform costs based on specific staffing and annual volume.
