A scenario based approach to optimizing cost-effectiveness of physician-staffed Helicopter Emergency Medical Services compared to ground-based Emergency Medical Services in Finland.

OBJECTIVES: Since Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) is an expensive resource in terms of unit price compared to ground-based Emergency Medical Service (EMS), it is important to further investigate which methods would allow for the optimization of these services. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of physician-staffed HEMS compared to ground-based EMS in developed scenarios with improvements in triage, aviation performance, and the inclusion of ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was assessed by comparing health outcomes and costs of HEMS versus ground-based EMS across six different scenarios. Estimated 30-day mortality and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were used to measure health benefits. Quality-of-Life (QoL) was assessed with EuroQoL instrument, and a one-way sensitivity analysis was carried out across different patient groups. Survival estimates were evaluated from the national FinnHEMS database, with cost analysis based on the most recent financial reports. RESULTS: The best outcome was achieved in Scenario 3.1 which included a reduction in over-alerts, aviation performance enhancement, and assessment of ischemic stroke patients. This scenario yielded 1077.07-1436.09 additional QALYs with an ICER of 33,703-44,937 €/QALY. This represented a 27.72% increase in the additional QALYs and a 21.05% reduction in the ICER compared to the current practice. CONCLUSIONS: The cost-effectiveness of HEMS can be highly improved by adding stroke patients into the dispatch criteria, as the overall costs are fixed, and the cost-effectiveness is determined based on the utilization rate of capacity.

The Economic Impact of Community Paramedics Within Emergency Medical Services: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Globally, emergency medical services (EMSs) report that their demand is dominated by non-emergency (such as urgent and primary care) requests. Appropriately managing these is a major challenge for EMSs, with one mechanism employed being specialist community paramedics. This review guides policy by evaluating the economic impact of specialist community paramedic models from a healthcare system perspective. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team (health economics, emergency care, paramedicine, nursing) was formed, and a protocol registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023397840) and published open access. Eligible studies included experimental and analytical observational study designs of economic evaluation outcomes of patients requesting EMSs via an emergency telephone line ('000', '111', '999', '911' or equivalent) responded to by specialist community paramedics, compared to patients attended by usual care (i.e. standard paramedics). A three-stage systematic search was performed, including Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies (PRESS) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Two independent reviewers extracted and verified 51 unique characteristics from 11 studies, costs were inflated and converted, and outcomes were synthesised with comparisons by model, population, education and reliability of findings. RESULTS: Eleven studies (n = 7136 intervention group) met the criteria. These included one cost-utility analysis (measuring both costs and consequences), four costing studies (measuring cost only) and six cohort studies (measuring consequences only). Quality was measured using Joanna Briggs Institute tools, and was moderate for ten studies, and low for one. Models included autonomous paramedics (six studies, n = 4132 intervention), physician oversight (three studies, n = 932 intervention) and/or special populations (five studies, n = 3004 intervention). Twenty-one outcomes were reported. Models unanimously reduced emergency department (ED) transportation by 14-78% (higher quality studies reduced emergency department transportation by 50-54%, n = 2639 intervention, p < 0.001), and costs were reduced by AU$338-1227 per attendance in four studies (n = 2962). One study performed an economic evaluation (n = 1549), finding both that the costs were reduced by AU$454 per attendance (although not statistically significant), and consequently that the intervention dominated with a > 95% chance of the model being cost effective at the UK incremental cost-effectiveness ratio threshold. CONCLUSIONS: Community paramedic roles within EMSs reduced ED transportation by approximately half. However, the rate was highly variable owing to structural (such as local policies) and stochastic (such as the patient's medical condition) factors. As models unanimously reduced ED transportation-a major contributor to costs-they in turn lead to net healthcare system savings, provided there is sufficient demand to outweigh model costs and generate net savings. However, all models shift costs from EDs to EMSs, and therefore appropriate redistribution of benefits may be necessary to incentivise EMS investment. Policymakers for EMSs could consider negotiating with their health department, local ED or insurers to introduce a rebate for successful community paramedic non-ED-transportations. Following this, geographical areas with suitable non-emergency demand could be identified, and community paramedic models introduced and tested with a prospective economic evaluation or, where this is not feasible, with sufficient data collection to enable a post hoc analysis.

Increasing cost-effectiveness of AEDs using algorithms to optimise location.

OBJECTIVES: Volunteer responder systems (VRSs) aim to decrease time to defibrillation by dispatching trained volunteers to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) victims. AEDs are often underutilized due to poor placement. This study provides a cost-effectiveness analysis of adding AEDs at strategic locations to maximize quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). METHODS: We simulated combined volunteer, police, firefighter, and emergency medical service response scenarios to OHCAs, and applied our methods to a case study of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We compared the competing strategies of placing additional AEDs, using steps of 40 extra AEDs (0, 40, …, 1480), in addition to the existing 369 AEDs. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated for each increase in additional AEDs, from a societal perspective. The effect of AED connection and time to connection on survival to hospital admission and neurological outcome at discharge was estimated using logistic regression, using OHCA data from Amsterdam from 2006 to 2018. Other model inputs were obtained from literature. RESULTS: Purchasing up to 1120 additional AEDs (ICER €75,669/QALY) was cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of €80,000/QALY, when positioned strategically. Compared to current practice, adding 1120 AEDs resulted in a gain of 0.111 QALYs (95% CI 0.110-0.112) at an increased cost of €3792 per OHCA (95% CI €3778-€3807). Health benefits per AED diminished as more AEDs were added. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified cost-effective strategies to position AEDs at strategic locations in a VRS. The case study findings advocate for a substantial increase in the number of AEDs in Amsterdam.

The Estimated Cost-Effectiveness of Physician-Staffed Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Compared to Ground-Based Emergency Medical Services in Finland.

OBJECTIVE: Because the unit cost of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) is higher than traditional ground-based emergency medical services (EMS), it is important to further investigate the impact of HEMS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of physician-staffed HEMS compared with ground-based EMS in Finland under current practices. METHODS: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was evaluated using the differences in outcomes and costs between HEMS and ground-based EMS. The estimated mortality within 30 days and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were used to measure health benefits. Quality of life was estimated according to the EuroQoL scale, and a 1-way sensitivity analysis was conducted on the QALY indexes ranging from 0.6 to 0.8. Survival rates were calculated according to the national HEMS database, and the cost structure was estimated at 48 million euros based on financial statements. RESULTS: HEMS prevented the 30-day mortality of 68.1 patients annually, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of €43,688 to €56,918/QALY. Fixed costs accounted for 93% of HEMS expenses because of 24/7 operations, making the capacity utilization rate a major determinant of total costs. CONCLUSION: HEMS intervention is cost-effective compared with ground-based EMS and is acceptable from a societal willingness-to-pay perspective. These findings contribute valuable insights for health care management decision making and highlight the need for future research for service optimization.

The way back home: The invisible burden of the emergency healthcare services.

Ambulance services around the world vary according to regional, cultural and socioeconomic conditions. Many countries apply different health policies locally. In Turkey, transportation from hospital to home has started to form an important part of ambulance services in recent years. The increase in the number of patients whose treatment has been completed and waiting to be referred may hinder the work of the emergency services. The aim of this study was to examine the costs, indications, and impact on workload of patients sent home by ambulance. Patients were divided into two groups according to the reasons for referral. The distance to home, transport time and cost were calculated according to the reasons for transport. Patients who were transferred to other clinics or hospitals by ambulance were excluded from the study. The findings showed that the hospital-to-home transfer rate during the study period was 11.4%. Although 9.7% of all cases transferred from our hospital to home were due to social indications, these cases accounted for 16.26% of the total costs. These results suggest that providing home transport services to selected patient groups for medical reasons should be seen as part of the treatment. However, the indications for home transport should not be exceeded and an additional burden should not be placed on the fragile health service.

Eight years into the horizon of aspirational maternal and newborn health pledges: a nationwide cross-sectional exploration of the Burundian EmONC network capacity and budget deficits.

OBJECTIVE: The Burundian emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) programme, which was initiated in 2017 and supported by a specific policy, does not appear to reverse maternal and newborn mortality trends. Our study examined the capacity challenges facing participating EmONC facilities and developed alternative investment proposals to improve their readiness paying particular attention to EmONC professionals, physical infrastructure, and capital equipment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Burundian EmONC facilities (n=112). PARTICIPANTS: We examined EmONC policy documents, consulted 12 maternal and newborn health experts and 23 stakeholders and policymakers, surveyed all EmONC facilities (n=112), and collected cost data from the Ministry of Health and local suppliers in Burundi. We developed three context-specific EmONC resource benchmark standards by facility type; the Burundian policy norms and the expert minimum and maximum suggested thresholds; and used these alternatives to estimate EmONC resource gaps. We forecasted three corresponding budget estimates needed to address prevailing deficits taking a government perspective for a 5-year EmONC investment strategy. Additionally, we explored relationships between EmONC professionals and selected measures of service delivery using bivariate analyses and graphically. RESULTS: The lowest EmONC resource benchmark revealed that 95% of basic EmONC and all comprehensive EmONC facilities lack corresponding sets of human resources and 90% of all facilities need additional physical infrastructure and capital equipment. Assessed against the highest benchmark which proposes the most progressive set of standards for the prevailing workloads, Burundi would require 162 more medical doctors, 1005 midwives and nurses, 132 delivery rooms, 191 delivery tables, 678 and 156 maternity and newborn care beds, and 395 incubators amounting to US$32.9 million additional budget for 5 years. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that Burundian EmONC facilities face enormous capacity challenges equivalent to US$32.9 million funding gap for 5 years; averagely approximating to 5.96% total health budget increase annually.

The emergency burden in low and middle-income countries.

Injuries are the greatest single cause of surgical disease globally, disproportionately affecting low and middle-income countries and representing 10% of global mortality and 32% greater annual mortality than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. Road traffic injuries are the single greatest contributor to the global injury burden and the leading cause of death for young people aged 5 to 29 years. In May 2023, the 76th World Health Assembly resolved that emergency, critical, and operative care services are an integral part of a comprehensive national primary health care approach and foundational for health systems to effectively address emergencies. However, robust trauma systems and emergency medical services are lacking in low and middle-income countries to adequately address the prehospital injury burden in systematic and financially sustainable approaches, despite the disproportionate burden faced. Replicating formal Tier 2 emergency medical services (staffed by professional emergency responders within well-defined jurisdictions using dedicated vehicles and equipment) from high-income countries has failed, and the World Health Organization recommends Tier 1 systems (community bystander-driven prehospital care by provided by lay first responders) as the first step toward formal emergency medical services in these same settings. The Global Prehospital Consortium has identified 7 priority areas as a framework for future emergency medical services development, forming the basis for the remaining articles in this series, spanning infrastructure and operations, communication, education/training, impact evaluation, financing, governance/legal, and transportation/equipment.

Healthcare and economic cost burden of emergency medical services treated non-traumatic shock using a population-based cohort in Victoria, Australia.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the healthcare costs and impact on the economy at large arising from emergency medical services (EMS) treated non-traumatic shock. DESIGN: We conducted a population-based cohort study, where EMS-treated patients were individually linked to hospital-wide and state-wide administrative datasets. Direct healthcare costs (Australian dollars, AUD) were estimated for each element of care using a casemix funding method. The impact on productivity was assessed using a Markov state-transition model with a 3-year horizon. SETTING: Patients older than 18 years of age with shock not related to trauma who received care by EMS (1 January 2015-30 June 2019) in Victoria, Australia were included in the analysis. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome assessed was the total healthcare expenditure. Secondary outcomes included healthcare expenditure stratified by shock aetiology, years of life lived (YLL), productivity-adjusted life-years (PALYs) and productivity losses. RESULTS: A total of 21 334 patients (mean age 65.9 (±19.1) years, and 9641 (45.2%) females were treated by EMS with non-traumatic shock with an average healthcare-related cost of $A11 031 per episode of care and total cost of $A280 million. Annual costs remained stable throughout the study period, but average costs per episode of care increased (Ptrend=0.05). Among patients who survived to hospital, the average cost per episode of care was stratified by aetiology with cardiogenic shock costing $A24 382, $A21 254 for septic shock, $A19 915 for hypovolaemic shock and $A28 057 for obstructive shock. Modelling demonstrated that over a 3-year horizon the cohort lost 24 355 YLLs and 5059 PALYs. Lost human capital due to premature mortality led to productivity-related losses of $A374 million. When extrapolated to the entire Australian population, productivity losses approached $A1.5 billion ($A326 million annually). CONCLUSION: The direct healthcare costs and indirect loss of productivity among patients with non-traumatic shock are high. Targeted public health measures that seek to reduce the incidence of shock and improve systems of care are needed to reduce the financial burden of this syndrome.

Gestão de custos: microcusteio por absorção em um pronto-socorro durante a pandemia de COVID-19 / Cost management: microcosting by absorption in an emergency room during the COVID-19 pandemic / Gestión de costos: microcosteo por absorción en un servicio de urgencias durante la pandemia de COVID-19

Objetivo: analisar os custos operacionais de um pronto-socorro relacionados ao atendimento de pacientes COVID-19 em 2020 e 2021. Método: estudo transversal, descritivo de abordagem quantitativa. A mensuração dos custos utilizou-se da perspectiva do gestor hospitalar, por meio de microcusteio por absorção. Custos diretos, indiretos e variáveis, foram avaliados de cima para baixo (top-down). Resultados: o perfil predominante foi de homens, com idades entre 61 e 70 anos, casados, brancos e moradores de Londrina (Paraná, Brasil). O tempo médio de internação para pacientes graves foi 12,20 dias e, para os demais, 8,38 dias. O desfecho principal foi a alta hospitalar. Os custos operacionais em 2020 foram de R$28.461.152,87, já em 2021 os valores encontrados foram R$43.749.324,61. O custo médio do paciente-dia foi de R$2.614,45 em 2020 para R$3.351,93 em 2021. Conclusão: verificou-se aumento dos custos no período estudado. Conhecer os custos operacionais do pronto-socorro, possibilita o planejamento financeiro institucional contribuindo para qualificar a tomada de decisões gerenciais(AU)

Objective: to analyze the operating costs of an emergency room related to the care of COVID-19 patients in 2020 and 2021. Method: cross-sectional, descriptive study with a quantitative approach. The measurement of costs was used from the perspective of the hospital manager, through absorption micro-costing. Direct, indirect and variable costs were evaluated from top to bottom (top-down). Results: the predominant profile was men, aged between 61 and 70 years, married, white and living in Londrina (Paraná, Brazil). The mean length of stay for critically ill patients was 12.20 days and for the others, 8.38 days. The main outcome was hospital discharge. Operating costs in 2020 were BRL 28,461,152.87, while in 2021 the values found were BRL 43,749,324.61. The average patient-day cost went from R$2,614.45 in 2020 to R$3,351.93 in 2021. Conclusion: costs increased in the study period. Be aware of the operational costs of emergency room, enablement or institutional financial planning, contributing to qualify management decision-making(AU)

Objetivo: analizar los costos operativos de un servicio de urgencias relacionado con la atención de pacientes con COVID-19 en los años 2020 y 2021. Método: estudio descriptivo transversal con enfoque cuantitativo. Se utilizó la medición de costos desde la perspectiva del gestor del hospital, a través del microcosteo por absorción. Los costos directos, indirectos y variables se evaluaron de arriba hacia abajo (top-down). Resultados: el perfil predominante fue el de hombres, con edad entre 61 y 70 años, casados, blancos y residentes en Londrina (Paraná, Brasil). La estancia media de internación de los pacientes críticos fue de 12,20 días y, de los demás, de 8,38 días. El resultado principal fue el alta hospitalaria. Los costos operacionales en 2020 fueron de R$ 28.461.152,87, mientras que en 2021 los valores encontrados fueron de R$ 43.749.324,61. Los costos medios del paciente/día aumentaron de R$2.614,45 en 2020 a R$3.351,93 en 2021. Conclusión: se observó un aumento de los costos en el periodo estudiado. Conocer los costos operativos de un servicio de urgencias posibilita la planificación financiera institucional, contribuyendo a calificar la toma de decisiones gerenciales(AU)

Healthcare Utilization and Costs Reduction after Radiofrequency Ablation For Atrial Fibrillation in the Brazilian Private Healthcare System / Redução na Utilização de Recursos em Saúde e dos Custos após Ablação por Radiofrequência da Fibrilação Arial na Saúde Suplementar Brasileira

Abstract Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide, with significantly associated hospitalizations. Considering its growing incidence, the AF related economic burden to healthcare systems is increasing. Healthcare expenditures might be substantially reduced after AF radiofrequency ablation (AFRA). Objective: To compare resource utilization and costs before and after AFRA in a cohort of patients from the Brazilian private healthcare system. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study, based on patients' billing information from an administrative database. Eighty-three adult patients who had an AFRA procedure between 2014 and 2015 were included. Healthcare resource utilization related to cardiovascular causes, including ambulatory and hospital care, as well as its costs, were analyzed. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean follow-up was 14.7 ± 7.1 and 10.7 ± 5.4 months before and after AFRA, respectively. The 1-year AF recurrence-free rate was 83.6%. Before AFRA, median monthly total costs were Brazilian Reais (BRL) 286 (interquartile range [IQR]: 137-766), which decreased by 63.5% (p = 0.001) after the procedure, to BRL 104 (IQR: 57-232). Costs were reduced both in the emergency (by 58.6%, p < 0.001) and outpatient settings (by 56%, p < 0.001); there were no significant differences in the outpatient visits, inpatient elective admissions and elective admission costs before and after AFRA. The monthly median emergency department visits were reduced (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In this cohort, overall healthcare costs were reduced by 63.5%. A longer follow-up could be useful to evaluate if long-term cost reduction is maintained.

Resumo Fundamento: A fibrilação atrial (FA) é a arritmia mais comum em todo o mundo, com hospitalizações significativamente associadas. Considerando sua crescente incidência, a carga econômica relacionada à FA para os sistemas de saúde está aumentando. Os gastos com saúde podem ser substancialmente reduzidos após a ablação por radiofrequência (ARF). Objetivo: Comparar a utilização de recursos e os custos anteriores e posteriores à ARF em uma coorte de pacientes do sistema de saúde privado brasileiro. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo de coorte retrospectivo, com base nas informações de cobrança dos pacientes de um banco de dados administrativo. Foram incluídos oitenta e três pacientes adultos que passaram pelo procedimento de ARF entre 2014 e 2015. A utilização de recursos de saúde relacionados às causas cardiovasculares, incluindo atendimento ambulatorial e hospitalar, assim como seus custos, foram analisados. Um valor de p inferior a 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. Resultados: O seguimento médio foi de 14,7 ± 7,1 e 10,7 ± 5,4 meses antes e após a ARF, respectivamente. A taxa de FA livre de recidiva em 1 ano foi de 83,6%. Antes da ARF, a mediana dos custos totais mensais foi de R$286,00 (intervalo interquartil [IIQ]: 137-766), com redução de 63,5% (p = 0,001) após o procedimento, para um valor de R$104 (IIQ: 57-232). Os custos foram reduzidos tanto na emergência (em 58,6%, p < 0,001) como no ambiente ambulatorial (em 56%, p < 0,001); não houve diferenças significativas nas consultas ambulatoriais, internações eletivas e custos de internação eletiva antes e depois da ARF. As medianas das consultas mensais no setor de emergência foram reduzidas (p < 0,001). Conclusão: Nesta coorte, os custos gerais com saúde foram reduzidos em 63,5%. Um seguimento mais longo pode ser útil para avaliar se a redução de custos em longo prazo é mantida.

O princípio da integralidade e o SAMU / The integrality principle and the SAMU

A partir de 2002 o estado assume o esforço de normatizar a atenção às urgências com edição de Portarias e documentos. O SAMU foi o primeiro componente da política implantado. Ele opera co m ambulâncias com ou sem médico e com recursos tecnológicos diversos. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o potencial de prática de integralidade no SAMU. Para tal, foram realizadas três etapas de trabalho. Analisou-se a política de urgência a partir dos documentos e portarias que a compõem. No trabalho de campo foram entrevistados seis gestores dos três níveis de governo e avaliadas as práticas de regulação nos SAMU do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. A metodologia utilizou o referencial de análise da conduta estratégica da teoria da estruturação de Giddens (1984) relacionando as capacidades cognitivas dos agentes e suas estratégias de ação, com as dimensões estruturais. Para o campo, além da teoria de Giddens, busquei no referencial da avaliação indicadores (incluindo os da política), dialogando com a análise da situação do serviço. A política de urgência teve como marcos o financiamento federal , a regionalização, a capacitação dos profissionais, a função do SAMU de observatório da rede; e a gestão por comitês de urgência. A integralidade é proposta como valor, na indicação de utilizar o conceito ampliado de urgência, através da regionalização e da comunicação entre os serviços. A capacitação não foi instituída no estado e os vínculos empregatícios eram precários. Foi constatada a inoperância do Comitê Gestor Nacional de Urgências e ausência do Comitê Estadual. Não há assistência integrada tendo entre as causas a insuficiência estrutural da rede, representada pela ausência da atenção básica e pela precariedade nos hospitais de referência. Não há produção e utilização de informação e o SAMU não cumpre a função de observatório de saúde...

Análise da implantação do sistema de atendimento pré-hospitalar móvel em cinco capitais brasileiras / Analysis of the implementation of a mobile pre-hospital treatment system in five Brazilian state capitals

Apresentamos descrição e análise da implantação do sistema de atendimento pré-hospitalar móvel (Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência - SAMU). O texto é parte de uma pesquisa denominada Análise Diagnóstica de Implantação da Política Nacional de Redução de Acidentes e Violências. Estudamos a história recente da implantação, organização, recursos humanos, materiais e equipamentos do SAMU em cinco capitais (Curitiba - Paraná; Recife - Pernambuco; Brasília - Distrito Federal; Manaus - Amazonas; Rio de Janeiro) que apresentam elevadas taxas de morbimortalidade por causas externas. Trabalhamos em quatro fases, cada qual agregando ciclos exploratórios, de trabalho de campo e de análise, triangulando dados quantitativos e qualitativos. Os resultados mostram que a implantação do SAMU constitui, hoje, um avanço do setor saúde e da sociedade. É preciso ainda completar a implantação de várias portarias quanto a veículos, pessoal e equipamentos; intensificar a articulação do pré-hospitalar móvel com as unidades de saúde; enfatizar informações geradas nesse subsistema visando ao melhor planejamento das ações; manter e promover a alta qualificação dos profissionais do SAMU. Este serviço veio oficializar, padronizar e regular um subsistema fundamental para salvar vidas.

The article presents a description and analysis of the implementation of a pre-hospital treatment system (SAMU) as part of the research project Diagnostic Analysis of the Implementation of a National Policy for the Reduction of Violence and Accidents. Implementation and organization of the SAMU service, together with the related materials, human resources, and equipment, was studied in five Brazilian State capitals with high morbidity and mortality rates from external causes: Curitiba (Paraná), Recife (Pernambuco), Brasília (Federal District), Rio de Janeiro, and Manaus (Amazonas). The study involved four phases, each developing exploratory and analytical cycles, combined with fieldwork, triangulating quantitative and qualitative data. Implementation of the pre-hospital treatment system is now a key health sector asset. Further necessary steps include: comprehensive legislation covering vehicles, personnel, and equipment; closer networking between mobile units and healthcare facilities; focus on information generated in this sub-system, thus facilitating planning; and maintaining and upgrading high qualifications for SAMU crews. The service is officially establishing, standardizing, and regulating a sub-system that is crucial for saving lives.

Variación del costo unitario en una institución de seguridad social en Querétaro, México / Unit cost variation in a social security company in Querétaro, México

OBJETIVO: Estimar e identificar la variación del costo unitario por departamento final y motivo de atención, en unidades de medicina familiar de una institución de seguridad social en Querétaro, México.MÉTODOS: Se trata de un estudio de costo (dólares americanos $US) en unidades de medicina familiar para el año 2004. El costo unitario fijo se estimó utilizando la departamentalización ajustada por productividad para un año, se identificaron departamentos finales y generales. Se incluyeron recursos materiales, físicos y de consumo, se construyeron ponderadores para asignar los recursos invertidos en los departamentos generales a cada uno de los finales. La estimación del costo unitario variable se realizó mediante la técnica de micro-costeo apoyado por grupos de expertos, se consideraron como insumos variables los medicamentos, el material de curación y los reactivos. El costo unitario se integró con la suma del costo unitario fijo y el costo unitario variable correspondiente para el motivo de atención. El análisis contempló la comparación de los costos unitarios entre las unidades médicas. RESULTADOS: El costo unitario para un mes de manejo del diabético varió entre $US 34,8, $US 32,2 y $US 34,0; el costo de la detección de cáncer cervicouterino se encontró entre $US 7,2, $US 8,7 y $US 7,3; y el costo unitario de la atención de la caries fluctuó entre $US 27,0, $US 33,6 y $US 28,7. CONCLUSION: La variación del costo unitario es más importante en el departamento de urgencias y dental.

Comportamiento clínico y costos de la gastroenteritis por rotavirus en lactantes: adquisición comunitaria versus nosocomial / Clinical features and costs of rotavirus gastroenteritis in infants: community versus nosocomialy acquired infection

Este estudio observacional prospectivo describe elementos clínicos y costos directos de lactantes hospitalizados (julio 2003 a junio 2004), con diarrea confirmada por rotavirus de adquisición comunitaria (G-1, n = 78) y otros de adquisición nosocomial (G-2, n = 52). Se les aplicó una escala de gravedad de gastroenteritis, según Rennels 1996, de 0 a 17 puntos y asignó costos directos según arancel FONASA. Un 26,9 % de pacientes del G-1 tuvo puntaje > a 14 v/s 9,6 % del G-2 (p < 0,015). Así también los lactantes del G-1 presentaron menor nivel de bicarbonato plasmático (p < 0,001) y mayor frecuencia de shock o requerimiento de expansión de volumen (p < 0,023). El costo promedio total fue de $143.805 (US 277) para un caso de rotavirosis adquirida en la comunidad y $139.423 (US 268) para la de origen nosocomial. Hubo un gasto de $ 7.250.010 (US 13.900) en esta infección nosocomial, lo que amerita la implementación de un programa activo de prevención y control.

Análisis de costo-utilidad de la perfusión miocárdica en reposo y las troponinas en el tamizaje de pacientes con dolor torácico y electrocardiograma normal o no diagnóstico en urgencias / Cost-effectiveness ratios of the myocardial perfusion imaging at rest in patients with typical or atypical chest pain and normal or non diagnostic electrocardiogram

Objetivo: Determinar la utilidad esperada y la costo-efectividad del uso de la perfusión miocárdica en reposo en pacientes con riesgo bajo e intermedio de presentar infarto agudo del miocardio que consultan a urgencias con dolor típico o atípico y electrocardiograma normal o no diagnóstico. Diseño: Análisis de decisiones, Estudio de utilidad esperada y Análisis económico de costoefectividad. Lugar: Fundación A. Shaio. Bogotá-Colombia. Población: Pacientes mayores de 40 años con dolor típico o atípico que consultan a urgencias con electrocardiograma normal o no diagnóstico. Intervención: Se diseñaron tres modelos de análisis de decisiones que permitieran calcular la utilidad esperada y las razones de costoefectividad de las alternativas derivadas del uso de la perfusión miocárdica de reposo en urgencias y las troponinas para decidir hospitalización guiada o no por estos resultados, en las primeras seis horas de iniciados los síntomas. Mediciones: Se construyeron 3 árboles de decisiones comparando las alternativas de tamizaje derivadas del uso de las troponinas y la perfusión miocárdica para decidir la hospitalización. Las probabilidades de los eventos se obtuvieron de la revisión crítica de la literatura. Las utilidades se midieron mediante la técnica de ordenamiento directo en escala de 0 a 1 valorando las preferencias de los médicos de urgencias y de los pacientes que consultaron a urgencias por dolor torácico agudo y que fueron remitidos a Medicina Nuclear para valoración. Los costos se obtuvieron de la revisión de las facturas de las historias clínicas de 105 pacientes con diagnóstico en urgencias de angina y 116 pacientes quienes ingresaron por urgencias con diagnóstico de infarto en el período de enero a julio de 2001. El desenlace utilizado es la unidad natural "pacientes correctamente clasificados" que permita medir el impacto del diagnóstico incorrecto. Se calcularon las utilidades esperadas y las razones de costoefectividad una vez establecido el cos...

¿Es costo efectiva la realizacion de los estudios radiologicos rutinarios en los pacientes con trauma cerrado en el servicio de urgencias? / ¿Is cost-effectiveness the rutinary use of radiographs in patients with close trauma in Emergency service?

El objetivo principal del presente estudio es el de determinar si es costo efectiva la realización de las radiografías de columna cervical, tórax y pelvis a todos los pacientes con trauma cerrado que acuden al servicio de urgencias. La percepción, tanto por los médicos del servicio de Urgencias, como por los cirujanos y los radiólogos, es que un alto número de estos estudios tienen resultados normales y que por lo tanto su realización no se justifica. Se revisaron las historias clínicas y los reportes radiológicos de 408 pacientes a los que se les realizó el protocolo de radiografías adoptado por el servicio de urgencias de nuestro hospital por recomendación del ATLS radiografías de columna cervical proyección lateral, tórax y de pelvis) con diagnóstico de politraumatismo secundario a trauma cerrado durante el período de junio de 1997 a mayo de 1998. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes mayores de 15 años con estas características. Se hizo la medición de costos, efectividad y la evaluación de asociación entre los hallazgos clínicos y los resultados de los estudios radiológicos. Encontramos que el examen físico es un mal predictor de la presencia de alteraciones en los pacientes con este tipo de trauma y sólo la presencia de déficit sensitivo en trauma cervical, dolor pélvico en trauma de pelvis y huellas externas en el trauma de tórax se asocian significativamente a hallazgos en la radiografía. La realización de los estudios radiológicos rutinarios, propuesto por la ATLS en los pacientes con trauma cerrado en el servicio de urgencias es costo-efectiva

O custo do atendimento emergencial às vítimas de violências em dois hospitais do Rio de Janeiro / Emergency care costs for victims of violence treated at two hospitals in Rio de Janeiro

Analisa os custos de um mês da assistência de emergência aos diferentes tipos de violência atendidos em dois hospitais municipais do Rio de Janeiro. Foi pesquisado: 1) o custo total de cada hospital com o atendimento a cada tipo de violência; 2) o custo médio do atendimento por tipo de violência; 3) o custo dos atendimentos por seus distintos componentes (materiais e medicamentos, cirurgias, procedimentos padronizados, exames, recursos humanos e alimentaçäo). Apoiou-se em levantamento minucioso in loco de todos os serviços e bens utilizados no atendimento aos 1.053 pacientes da amostra selecionada (498 no Hospital Miguel Couto - HMMC, e 555 no Hospital Salgado Filho - HMSF). Os acidentes relacionados ao trânsito absorveram 74,3 por cento dos custos da amostra analisada no HMMC e 48,4 por cento dos custos relativos à amostra do HMSF. As agressöes no HMSF, geraram 49,8 por cento do custo da violência, ao passo que no HMMC o percentual foi de 24,9 por cento. O custo médio do tratamento de vítimas dos atropelamentos oscilou entre R$77,76 (HMSF) e R$237,77 (HMMC); os custos médios do atendimento às vítimas de agressöes variaram entre R$107,35 (HMSF) e R$84,19 (HMMC). A conclusäo buscou encaminhar algumas sugestöes na perspectiva de reforçar a necessidade de uma agenda na área de saúde pública para o enfrentamento e prevençäo da violência.