Virtual Critical Care for Eastern Ontario-A Cost-Benefit Analysis

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Critical Care Medicine
• Telehealth

Background:

• Virtual critical care (VCC) programs extend specialist expertise to community hospitals for critically ill patients.
• Canadian evidence on the economic impact of VCC is limited.
• This study quantifies cost savings from a new VCC program in Eastern Ontario.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the cost savings associated with a newly implemented regional VCC program.
• To evaluate the economic impact of remote specialist support in community hospitals.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cost-benefit analysis of a regional VCC program covering 13 community hospitals over 19 months.
• Inclusion of all adult patients with VCC consultations.
• Cost estimation focused on avoided interfacility transfers, transportation, and inpatient cost differences.

Main Results:

• 60% of transfers to larger centers were avoided.
• Estimated savings from avoided land ambulance transfers: $61,101 CAD.
• Inpatient cost savings ranged from $687,643 to $2,681,420 CAD, exceeding program operating costs.

Conclusions:

• The Eastern Ontario VCC program achieved substantial cost savings, mainly by avoiding transfers and reducing reliance on expensive academic ICU beds.
• VCC is a potentially cost-effective strategy for supporting critically ill patients in community settings.