Drone versus ambulance for blood products transportation: an economic evaluation study

Background Medical transportation is an essential step in health care services, and includes ground, air and water transportation. Among the important uses of medical transportation is the delivery of blood products in the event of a clinical emergency. Drone technology is the latest technological advancement that may revolutionize medical transportation globally. Nonetheless, its economic evaluation is scant and insufficient, whilst its cost-effectiveness remains controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of drone transportation versus the ambulance. Methods The setting of the study was within a developing nation. An economic evaluation study of drone versus ambulance for emergency blood products transportation between the Sabah Women and Children Hospital (SWACH) and the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital (QEH2) on Borneo Island was conducted using the Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) technique. The total cost of each mode of transportation was calculated using the Activity Based Costing (ABC) method. Travel time was used as a denominator to estimate the Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio (ICER). Results For one clinical emergency in SWACH, a round trip of blood products transportation from SWACH to QEH2 costs RM1,266.02 (USD307.09) when using the ambulance, while the drone costs RM1,313.28 (USD319.36). The travel time for the drone was much shorter (18 min) compared to the ambulance (34 min). The Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (CER) of ambulance transportation was RM37.23 (USD9.05) per minute whilst the CER of drone transportation was RM72.96 (USD17.74) per minute. The ICER of drone versus ambulance was − 2.95, implying an increase of RM2.95 in cost for every minute saved using a drone instead of an ambulance. Conclusion Although drone transportation of blood products costs more per minute compared to the ambulance, the significantly shorter transport time of the drone offset its cost. Thus, we believe there is good economic potential for drone usage for blood products transportation in developing nations particularly if the drone price decreases and its operational lifespan increases. Our limitation of a non-clinical denominator used in this study leads to the recommendation for use of clinical outcomes in future studies.

Penicillin Allergy Testing Is Cost-Saving: An Economic Evaluation Study

Background Having a penicillin allergy label is associated with the use of less appropriate and more expensive antibiotics and increased healthcare utilization. Penicillin allergy testing results in delabeling most allergy claimants and may be cost-saving. This study aimed to project whether penicillin allergy testing in patients reporting a penicillin allergy is cost-saving. Methods In this economic evaluation study, we built decision models to project the economic impact of 2 strategies for a patient with a penicillin allergy label: (1) perform diagnostic testing (drug challenges, with or without skin tests); and (2) do not perform diagnostic testing. The health service perspective was adopted, considering costs with penicillin allergy tests, and with hospital bed-days/outpatient visits, antibiotic use, and diagnostic testing. Twenty-four base case decision models were built, accounting for differences in the diagnostic workup, setting (inpatient vs outpatient) and geographic region. Uncertainty was explored via probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Results Penicillin allergy testing was cost-saving in all decision models built. For models assessing the performance of both skin tests and drug challenges, allergy testing resulted in average savings (in United States [US] dollars) of $657 for inpatients (US: $1444; Europe: $489) and $2746 for outpatients (US: $256; Europe: $6045). 75% of simulations obtained through probabilistic sensitivity analysis identified testing as the less costly option. Conclusions Penicillin allergy testing was projected to be cost-saving across different scenarios. These results are devised to inform guidelines, supporting the adoption of policies promoting widespread testing of patients with a penicillin allergy label.

Cost Centric Data Mining for Radiology Procedures at Teaching Hospital in Malaysia

This study explored radiology procedure cost across available units in the Radiology’s Department UKMMC (University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre). In 2011, the total number of radiology procedures carried out in this department was 121,221. Nevertheless, the estimating expenses of offering these procedures are not known. An economic evaluation study was employed and cost centric data mining based on costing activity method was used to determine the charge of the procedure in every centre. Information on seven cost parameters was collected for each procedure: human resources, consumables, equipment, reagents, administration, maintenance and utilities. The results of the study show that the highest percentage of cost parameter for the human resource was Radiology (Mobile) 57.5%, the highest percentage of cost parameter for consumables and reagent was EIR (Endovascular International Radiology) Unit 75.8% and Medical Nuclear Unit 68.1% was the highest percentage of cost parameter for reagent. The MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Unit 81.4% was the highest cost parameter for equipment. The most top mean cost procedures were EIR MYR4330 and it was revealed that procedures with the highest difference ratio were procedures in EIR (18.50). Finding of this study is very useful to UKMMC management since it helps to enhance the efficiency of services and reduce unnecessary radiology procedures in patient’s management.