Journal
JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY PRACTICE
Volume 13, Issue 5, Pages E421-E430Publisher
AMER SOC CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
DOI: 10.1200/JOP.2016.014860
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research [146181]
- California Healthcare Foundation [18339]
- National Cancer Institute [P30CA006973]
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute [4362]
- NINR [1R01 CA177562-01, 1-R01 NR014050 01]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Purpose Palliative care inpatient units (PCUs) can improve symptoms, family perception of care, and lower per-diem costs compared with usual care. In March 2013, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions (JHMI) added a PCU to the palliative care (PC) program. We studied the financial impact of the PC program on JHMI from March 2013 to March 2014. Methods This study considered three components of the PC program: PCU, PC consultations, and professional fees. Using 13 months of admissions data, the team calculated the per-day variable cost pre-PCU (ie, in another hospital unit) and after transfer to the PCU. These fees were multiplied by the number of patients transferred to the PCU and by the average length of stay in the PCU. Consultation savings were estimated using established methods. Professional fees assumed a collection rate of 50%. Results The total positive financial impact of the PC program was $3,488,863.17. There were 153 transfers to the PCU, 60% with cancer, and an average length of stay of 5.11 days. The daily loss pretransfer to the PCU of $1,797.67 was reduced to $1,345.34 in the PCU (225%). The PCU saved JHMI $ 353,645.17 in variable costs, or $452.33 per transfer. Cost savings for PC consultations in the hospital, 60% with cancer, were estimated at $2,765,218. $370,000 was collected in professional fees savings. Conclusion The PCU and PC program had a favorable impact on JHMI while providing expert patient-centered care. As JHMI moves to an accountable care organization model, value-based patient-centered care and increased intensive care unit availability are desirable.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available