scholarly journals Reoperation costs in attempted breast-conserving surgery: a decision analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 314 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Pataky ◽  
C.R. Baliski
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Breast Reconstruction ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Breast Conserving Surgery ◽  
Reoperation Rate ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Care System

Background Breast-conserving surgery (bcs) is the preferred surgical approach for most patients with early-stage breast cancer. Frequently, concerns arise about the pathologic margin status, resulting in an average reoperation rate of 23% in Canada. No consensus has been reached about the ideal reoperation rate, although 10% has been suggested as a target. Upon undergoing reoperation, many patients choose mastectomy and breast reconstruction, which add to the morbidity and cost of patient care. We attempted to identify the cost of reoperation after bcs, and the effect that a reduction in the reoperation rate could have on the B.C. health care system.Methods A decision tree was constructed to estimate the average cost per patient undergoing initial bcs with two reoperation frequency scenarios: 23% and 10%. The model included the direct medical costs from the perspective of the B.C. health care system for the most common surgical treatment options, including breast reconstruction and postoperative radiation therapy.Results Costs ranged from a low of $8,225 per patient with definitive bcs [95% confidence interval (ci): $8,061 to $8,383] to a high of $26,026 for reoperation with mastectomy and delayed reconstruction (95% ci: $23,991 to $28,122). If the reoperation rate could be reduced to 10%, the average saving would be $1,055 per patient undergoing attempted bcs (95% ci: $959 to $1,156). If the lower rate were to be achieved in British Columbia, it would translate into a savings of $1.9 million annually.Summary The implementation of initiatives to reduce reoperation after bcs could result in significant savings to the health care system, while potentially improving the quality of patient care.

Teletinnitus Program at the VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29
Author(s):  
Constance Hilory Tomberlin
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Care System

There are a multitude of reasons that a teletinnitus program can be beneficial, not only to the patients, but also within the hospital and audiology department. The ability to use technology for the purpose of tinnitus management allows for improved appointment access for all patients, especially those who live at a distance, has been shown to be more cost effective when the patients travel is otherwise monetarily compensated, and allows for multiple patient's to be seen in the same time slots, allowing for greater access to the clinic for the patients wishing to be seen in-house. There is also the patient's excitement in being part of a new technology-based program. The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System (GCVHCS) saw the potential benefits of incorporating a teletinnitus program and began implementation in 2013. There were a few hurdles to work through during the beginning organizational process and the initial execution of the program. Since the establishment of the Teletinnitus program, the GCVHCS has seen an enhancement in patient care, reduction in travel compensation, improvement in clinic utilization, clinic availability, the genuine excitement of the use of a new healthcare media amongst staff and patients, and overall patient satisfaction.

An Experimental Ward: Improving Care and Learning

1992 ◽  
Vol 8 (02) ◽  
pp. 318-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry Ronan ◽  
John D. Stoeckle
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Residency Training ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Hospital Organization ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Delivery Of Care ◽  
Care System

AbstractThe rapidly changing health care system is still largely organized according to old, and increasingly outdated models. The contemporary demands of patient care and residency training call for an experimental ward, which can develop and test new techniques in hospital organization and the delivery of care in a comprehensive way.

SOA Designed Health Care System for Taiwan Government

2012 ◽  
pp. 643-669
Author(s):  
Jun-Bin Shi ◽  
Shu-Fen Yang ◽  
Tsung-Jen Huang
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Service Oriented Architecture ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Need To Evaluate ◽  
Service Oriented ◽  
The Government ◽  
Care System

SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture) is gaining popularity in becoming the mainstream in corporate integrated applications in recent years. However, at the early stage of proposal for SOA, due to the lack of a completion in relevant standards and infrastructure, corporations still need to evaluate the effect and risks involved in investment for SOA. For this reason, the introduction for SOA among corporations becomes relatively conservative. In contrast to the conservation projected by corporations at the initial stage, the government agents took position in promoting SOA and developing e-Government, who were the forerunners first committed in the integration of SOA applications.

A Specialized Home Care Team Does Make a Difference

1992 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 38-41
Author(s):  
Dorothy Larson ◽  
Ralph Odegard ◽  
N.E. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Care Team ◽  
Research Facility ◽  
Teaching And Research ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Care System ◽  
At Home

Results of a study done in a large teaching and research facility in Alberta reveal that a specialized home care team can substantially lower the cost of caring for people who are ventilator dependent. With the assistance of a pulmonary physician, the Respiratory Home Care program has shown excellent results. Patients report that they “feel as safe at home as in the hospital”, and the savings to the health care system are estimated to be about $2,000,000 per year.

The cost burden of trastuzumab and bevacizumab monoclonal antibody therapy in solid tumors: Can we afford it?

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6044-6044 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Drucker ◽  
K. Virik ◽  
C. Skedgel ◽  
D. Rayson ◽  
M. Sellon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Drug Costs ◽  
Cost Burden ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Treatment Standard ◽  
Pharmacy Data ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Care System

6044 Background: Monoclonal antibodies (MAb), such as trastuzumab (TZ) and bevacizumab (BZ), have become an important yet expensive component of cancer treatment. The potential cost impact on health care budgets needs to be assessed in the context of its potential utilization. An estimate of the additional costs incurred by adopting TZ and BZ therapy in breast (BRC), lung (LUC) and colorectal (CRC) cancers was undertaken. Methods: The MAb costs per patient were estimated based on treatment indications, length of treatment, standard doses / schedules and local pharmacy data. Supportive medications, diagnostics and health resources utilization only required for the MAb therapy were also examined. This analysis was performed in Canadian dollars ($), and assumes complete drug delivery and uncomplicated cycles. Drug costs were based on average 2005 wholesale prices in Canada. The analysis took a direct payer perspective. We subsequently estimated the cost of MAb therapy per patient relative to the total costs of conventional cancer management without MAb therapy. Budget impact estimates on Canada’s health care system were then derived according to constructed schema, which accounts for absolute numbers of target patients and systemic therapy utilization. Results: The average costs of TZ per treated patient were $47,278 and $26,648 for adjuvant and metastatic BRC, respectively. For BZ, these were $47,250 and $38,500 for metastatic LUC and CRC, respectively. Other costs associated with MAb therapy were in the range of 3–6%. The predicted TZ drug costs in metastatic breast cancer were within 10% of the actual costs derived from pharmacy data. The potential life-time absolute costs to Canada’s health care system were approximately $118 million for TZ, and $262 million for BZ. This corresponds to an average of approximately 21% increase in the health care expenditure for BRC, LUC, and CRC. Conclusions: MAb therapy, such as TZ and BZ, may add a significant cost burden to Canada’s publicly funded health care system. The developed schema in this analysis may be of potential use to health care providers and policy makers in assessing the impact of MAb therapy on health care budgets. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

scholarly journals Diversity, Health, and the State of Patient Care in the US Health Care System

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S3) ◽  
pp. 567-567
Author(s):  
Hayden B. Bosworth ◽  
Ronnie D. Horner
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
The State ◽  
The Us ◽  
Care System
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document