Cost Benefit and Carbon Emission Saving Analysis of Remote Cochlear Implant Programming

Area of Science:

• Audiology and Otolaryngology
• Health Economics
• Environmental Sustainability in Healthcare

Background:

• Cochlear implant (CI) care requires regular programming and troubleshooting.
• Patients in remote regions face significant travel burdens for in-person appointments.
• Remote care models are being explored to improve accessibility and reduce healthcare's environmental impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the financial benefits of virtual-synchronous remote CI programming and troubleshooting.
• To quantify the carbon emission savings associated with remote CI care.
• To assess the feasibility for patients living in remote geographical areas.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving CI users living at least 100 km from the implant center.
• Two remote care groups: home visits with a portable laptop (Remote Laptop) and visits via a Remote Hosted Site.
• Comparison of direct costs (CAD) and carbon emissions between remote and in-person appointments.

Main Results:

• Remote care significantly reduced costs compared to in-person appointments (e.g., Remote Hosted Site: $155.34 vs. $1110.89).
• Substantial cost reductions were observed, with cost-to-benefit ratios of 2.39 (Remote Laptop) and 7.15 (Remote Hosted Site).
• Significant carbon emission savings were achieved, with net benefits of 2200.00 kg and 5691.50 kg for the respective remote groups.

Conclusions:

• Virtual synchronous remote CI programming and troubleshooting provide significant cost savings in post-surgical care.
• This remote care model yields substantial reductions in carbon emissions.
• Widespread adoption is recommended, particularly for patients residing far from specialized implant centers.