Economic Value of Peer Support Program in German Hospitals

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Healthcare Management
• Psychosocial Support

Background:

• The second victim phenomenon significantly burdens healthcare professionals.
• Peer support is crucial for mitigating this psychosocial impact.
• Existing programs like the Resilience In Stressful Events (RISE) program in the US offer a benchmark.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the economic benefits of a Peer Support Program (PSP) in Germany's acute inpatient care sector.
• To compare the cost-effectiveness of a PSP against existing models.
• To quantify financial savings and improvements in workforce stability.

Main Methods:

• A Markov model was employed for economic evaluation over a 1-year period.
• Cost-benefit analysis included sick day and dropout costs.
• Calculations were based on a 1,000-employee hospital, using conservative estimations.

Main Results:

• A Peer Support Program (PSP) is projected to save an average of €6,672 per participating healthcare worker.
• The estimated annual budgetary impact for a 1,000-employee hospital is approximately €6.67 million.
• The PSP demonstrated significant cost savings and workforce stabilization.

Conclusions:

• Integrating a Peer Support Program (PSP) is economically beneficial for German hospitals.
• PSPs reduce absenteeism and turnover, enhancing financial resources.
• The implementation of PSPs ultimately contributes to improved patient care.