Early Rehabilitation Bundle in a Canadian PICU: Cost Analysis of Implementation in 2018-2020

First, to determine the resources and costs required to implement an early rehabilitation (ABCDEF) bundle. Second, to compare the impact of the bundle on costs pre- and post-implementation.

Cost analysis was conducted as part of an implementation study at McMaster Children's Hospital PICU in 2018-2020.

Resource estimates for all implementation activities from 2018 to 2020 were calculated from material costs and hours spent by personnel multiplied by wages. PICU and patient-level costs before (from January 2019 to March 2019) and after bundle implementation (from January 2020 to March 2020) were compared using case-costing data. Linear regression was used to analyze log-transformed costs adjusted for age, sex, and severity of illness score. Costs are reported in Canadian dollars (CAD). A total of 907 hours were spent over a 2-year implementation period, at an estimated cost of CAD 50,813. Physicians contributed the most hours, followed by the nurse educator and pharmacist. Material costs were CAD 860. There were 141 patients pre-implementation and 84 patients post-implementation in the analyses. Adjusted mean PICU cost per patient was CAD 17,342 and CAD 20,310, pre- to post-implementation, respectively; mean difference (95% CI) between post- and pre-implementation was 17% higher (95% CI, from 6.3% lower to 46% higher). Adjusted mean pharmacy cost per patient was CAD 834 pre-implementation and CAD 827 post-implementation; mean difference of 0.8% lower post-implementation (95% CI, from 27% lower to 35% higher).

Implementation of the ABCDEF bundle requires significant time and collaboration of key stakeholders. There was no impact on PICU or patient costs following bundle implementation, but the period of observation was limited by COVID-19. Future studies should include cost analyses that incorporate longer-term, patient-centered health outcomes to determine whether this intervention is cost-effective.