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Costs of gastrointestinal examinations: a comparative study
Gastrointestinal Radiology
|June 25, 1978
Summary
Comparing gastrointestinal imaging costs, the double-contrast barium enema significantly increases time and expense over the single-contrast version. The double-contrast upper gastrointestinal series shows only a small cost increase compared to its single-contrast counterpart.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Gastroenterology
- Health Economics
Background:
- Gastrointestinal imaging is crucial for diagnosing various digestive conditions.
- Understanding the cost-effectiveness of different imaging modalities is essential for healthcare providers and patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the costs associated with four major gastrointestinal examinations.
- To evaluate the economic implications of single-contrast versus double-contrast techniques for upper gastrointestinal series and barium enemas.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 1,725 gastrointestinal examination records.
- Analysis of factors including film usage, room occupancy time, and physician involvement time.
- Determination of the overall costs for each examination type.
Main Results:
- The double-contrast barium enema demonstrated a significantly higher time and expense compared to the single-contrast barium enema.
- The double-contrast upper gastrointestinal series incurred a relatively small cost increment over the single-contrast upper gastrointestinal series.
Conclusions:
- The choice between single-contrast and double-contrast barium enemas has substantial cost implications.
- The economic benefit of double-contrast upper gastrointestinal series over single-contrast is less pronounced.