Financial Cost of Genitourinary Foreign Objects: A Single-Institution Experience

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Healthcare Economics

Background:

• Genitourinary foreign objects (GUFOs) present complex management challenges.
• Understanding the financial and demographic impact of GUFOs is crucial for healthcare resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the financial costs and patient demographics associated with genitourinary foreign object management.
• To compare GUFO management between community-dwelling and incarcerated patient populations.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of a Genitourinary Foreign Objects database (2012-2020).
• Inclusion of 39 patients with 204 GUFO encounters.
• Healthcare costs extracted from billing and collections data.

Main Results:

• The study identified 17 recurrent inserters accounting for 89% of encounters.
• Average medical charges per GUFO encounter were $9479.
• Total study period costs reached $1,876,345.32, with $899,470.87 reimbursed.

Conclusions:

• This is the largest single-institution series on genitourinary foreign objects.
• GUFO management is costly, with recurrent inserters observed in diverse patient groups.
• Findings support developing guidelines for improved patient care and resource optimization in correctional and community settings.