Hospital-based violence intervention programs: An analysis of costs and key components

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Economics
• Trauma Surgery

Background:

• Firearm assaults cause significant annual deaths and injuries, leading to substantial human and financial burdens.
• Gun violence survivors face multifaceted, long-term challenges, including physical, mental, economic, and safety concerns.
• Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) offer bedside support and wraparound services to survivors, showing promise in reducing reinjury and retaliation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a cost analysis of HVIPs for the first three years of implementation.
• To inform researchers and program implementers about necessary budgets and resources for HVIPs.
• To provide a framework for understanding the financial investment required for HVIPs.

Main Methods:

• An ingredients-based costing approach was used.
• Base-case assumptions were applied to a hospital-linked HVIP in a mid-sized city emergency department.
• The program was designed to serve 100 participants annually.

Main Results:

• The estimated annual cost for the base-case HVIP is $1.1 million, or approximately $10,800 per participant.
• Staffing constitutes the largest portion of the HVIP budget, followed by operations, crisis support, and transportation.
• Upfront costs are minimal, and annual expenses remain stable across the initial three years.

Conclusions:

• HVIP enrollment is more cost-effective than the annual medical expenses for nonfatal firearm assault injuries.
• This research supports future cost-benefit analyses and encourages wider adoption of HVIPs.
• HVIPs represent a vital, potentially cost-saving intervention for communities affected by gun violence.