A cost evaluation of a hospital-based perinatal case management program

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Economics
• Perinatal Care

Background:

• Traditional hospital obstetrical nursing care delivery models present unique cost structures.
• Redesigned perinatal case management models offer potential for cost-efficiency and improved patient outcomes.
• Comparative cost analysis is essential for evaluating healthcare delivery innovations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a procedure for determining the costs associated with nursing care delivery.
• To facilitate a comparative analysis of two distinct nursing care models: conventional obstetrical and redesigned perinatal case management.
• To provide a framework for economic evaluation in nursing practice.

Main Methods:

• Development of a cost-determination procedure tailored for nursing care delivery.
• Application of the procedure to quantify costs for a conventional hospital obstetrical nursing care model.
• Application of the procedure to quantify costs for a redesigned hospital-based perinatal case management model.
• Comparative analysis of the cost data derived from both models.

Main Results:

• The described procedure enables detailed cost assessment of different nursing care delivery models.
• Quantifiable cost differences can be identified between conventional and redesigned perinatal care approaches.
• The methodology supports evidence-based decision-making regarding resource allocation in obstetrical and perinatal nursing.

Conclusions:

• A standardized procedure for cost determination is crucial for comparing nursing care models.
• Redesigned perinatal case management models warrant economic evaluation against conventional practices.
• This cost analysis framework can inform strategic planning for optimizing nursing care delivery and resource utilization.