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Neonatal back-transport. Cost-effectiveness
Insights
Returning ill neonates to community hospitals, known as back-transport, is cost-effective. This approach reduces medical care charges for infants during convalescence, making it a financially sound decision.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Health economics
- Healthcare management
Background:
- Tertiary centers provide specialized care for critically ill neonates.
- Convalescence planning for neonates involves decisions about care location post-discharge.
- The cost-effectiveness of transferring neonates back to community hospitals is an important consideration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of back-transport for previously ill neonates.
- To compare the total medical charges for convalescent care between back-transported (BT) and non-back-transported (NT) infants.
- To determine if cost savings justify the practice of back-transport.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of medical charges for two groups of neonates (n=20 each).
- Group 1: Infants transferred back to community hospitals (BT infants).
- Group 2: Infants who remained in the tertiary center for convalescence (NT infants).
Main Results:
- Total convalescent care charges for BT infants averaged $61,840 versus $68,240 for NT infants.
- Average savings of $320 per BT infant were observed.
- Reduced daily bed charges, laboratory tests, and medication costs for BT infants offset transport expenses.
Conclusions:
- Back-transport significantly decreases medical care charges for most neonates.
- The decision to back-transport should primarily be based on clinical factors, not solely cost.
- This practice offers a cost-effective solution for neonatal convalescent care.
Abstract:
This study examines the cost-effectiveness of returning previously ill neonates to community hospitals after treatment in a tertiary center, a concept known as "back-transport." The authors compared the charges for medical care during convalescence of a group of back-transported infants (BT infants; n = 20) with a similar group of infants who remained in a tertiary center for convalescence (NT infants; n = 20). The total charges for convalescent care (inpatient plus transport charges) for 20 representative BT infants was $61,840, compared with $68,240 for 20 matched NT infants, an average savings of $320 per BT infant. The average daily bed charge and charges for laboratory tests and medications were significantly less for BT infants compared with NT infants, and these reductions offset the transport charges for BT infants. The authors conclude that back transport decreases the charges for medical care for most infants. Therefore, the decision to back-transport an individual infant usually can be based on factors other than cost.