Health Economics
Delays in hospital patient discharge are associated with increased cost, infection, lower patient satisfaction and even mortality.1,2 Device consignment programs that allow for on-site home care equipment to be provided to the patient at/before hospital discharge can ease logistics and facilitate the transition out of acute care. This study compares the average inpatient length of therapy (LOT) between patients discharged from acute care facilities that have instituted a facilitated transition discharge program allowing for negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) systems to be provided to the patient at/before hospital discharge (facilitated transition program*) vs those hospitalized in facilities without this program.
Methods:
Billable orders from January 2021-September 2021 were obtained through Oracle data sources and analyzed in 3-month rolling intervals. Facilitated Transition program (FT) facilities were further segmented into active FT facilities (at least one transition order within the prior 90 days) vs inactive FT facilities (FT program set up but no transition orders during past 90 days). Distinct rental orders (billable orders) were counted for NPWT systems among patients treated with NPWT within the last 3 months. LOT was computed as: (sum of total therapy days)/(number of patients treated).
Results:
Sixty-seven percent (49,472) of billable orders and 69% (54,898) of patients were in active FT facilities. Inpatient LOT was 1.8 days shorter for FT vs non-FT facilities (9.0 vs 10.8 days). This equates to a potential per patient hospital savings of $5,071 for FT facilities. LOT was 1.2 days shorter in active FT vs inactive FT facilities (8.7 vs 9.9 days) and 1.4 days shorter from FT program vs non-FT program discharges in active FT facilities (7.5 vs 8.9 days). There was a 2.0 day LOT decrease for active FT program patients vs non-FT patients (7.5 vs 9.5 days).
Discussion:
This study shows the advantage of shorter inpatient stays and LOT for patients hospitalized in facilities actively using the FT program. Shorter inpatient stays and LOT may potentially lower healthcare expenditures.
Trademarked Items: 3M™ V.A.C.® Ready Care Program
References: 1. Thorup CB, Hougaard M, Blindum PF, et al. Hospitalised patients’ experiences during Negative Pressure Wound Therapy due to surgical site infection after vascular and cardiac surgery. Int Wound J. 2018 Oct;15(5):707-716.
2. Rojas-García A, Turner S, Pizzo E, et al. Impact and experiences of delayed discharge: A mixed studies systematic review. Health Expect. 2018 Feb;21(1):41-56.