Inappropriate use of oxygen: loss of a valuable healthcare resource

Oxygen (O2) use is well established in hospitalized patients with hypoxemia. However, its value in patients without hypoxemia is not well documented. The authors conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the excess use of O2 and the resulting loss of resources. They established criteria for O2 use by faculty consensus. Ninety-six patients (102 admissions) receiving O2 between August and October 1991 were identified. Principal discharge diagnoses included cardiac diseases (37%), pulmonary diseases (26.5%), and miscellaneous (36.5%). Cumulative oxygen use was 9,742 hours. Appropriate O2 amounted to 3,272 hours (34%), and inappropriate O2 use was 6,470 hours (66%). The billing for O2 use was $38,468, of which $25,880 constituted inappropriate use. In 1991, there were 7,743 admissions, with oxygen charges of $1.06 million. Extrapolation of the data shows billing for inappropriate oxygen was $697,000. The authors conclude that inappropriate use of oxygen results in significant loss of resources. Educational efforts to decrease this loss and evaluate its impact on patient outcome is needed.