Direct cost of connecting, maintaining and disconnecting patient-controlled analgesia pump

Coverage for the cost of outpatient nursing procedures by the Unified Health System: a percentage analysis

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the percentage of the coverage of transfers from the Brazilian Unified Health System regarding nursing procedures conducted in the Outpatient facility of a University Hospital.

METHOD

Quantitative, exploratory, descriptive case study. The sample for calculating the mean total direct costs was composed of non-participant observations of 656 procedures. The obtained costs were compared to transfers from the Unified Health System by multiplying the amount of procedures agreed upon by the unit cost in the Unified Table of Procedures in 2016 and 2017.

RESULTS

The Unified Health System transferred a percentage corresponding to 11.13% of the actual cost in 2016 and to 16.02% in 2017. In these two years, transfer values covered only a mean of 13.4%, resulting in a percentage difference in revenue significantly smaller than the actual cost.

CONCLUSION

The higher the productivity of the performed procedures, the higher was the hospital deficit and, consequently, the higher were the costs not covered by the Unified Health System.

Direct cost of procedures for phlebitis treatment in an Inpatient Unit

OBJECTIVE

To identify the average direct cost of the procedures performed for phlebitis treatment in patients in an Inpatient Unit and estimate the costs of the procedures performed to treat phlebitis in this unit.

METHOD

A quantitative, exploratory-descriptive, single-case study. Initially, records of the procedures performed for phlebitis management were identified. Then, the cost was calculated by multiplying the execution time (timed using a chronometer) spent by nursing technicians by the unit cost of direct labor, added to the cost of materials in 2017.

RESULTS

107 phlebitis referring to 96 patients were reported. To treat the different grades of phlebitis, three procedures were carried out "application of ointment of chamomile flower extract"; "Compress application"; "Peripheral venous access installation". "Peripheral venous access installation with Íntima® catheter" corresponded to the most expensive procedure (US$ 8.90-SD=0.06). Considering the record of the execution of 656 (100%) procedures, the total average direct cost estimate corresponded to US$ 866.18/year.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge about the costs of procedures can support decision making that increase allocation efficiency of consumed resources.

Direct cost of peripheral catheterization by nurses

ABSTRACT Objective: To measure the average direct cost of peripherally inserted central catheterization performed by nurses in a pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit. Method: A quantitative, exploratory-descriptive, single-case study, whose sample consisted of the non-participant observation of 101 peripherally inserted central catheter procedures. The cost was calculated by multiplying the execution time (timed using a chronometer) spent by nursing professionals, participants in the procedure, by the unit cost of direct labor, added to the cost of materials, drugs, and solutions. Results: The average direct cost of the procedure was US$ 326.95 (standard deviation = US$ 84.47), ranging from US$ 99.03 to US$ 530.71, with a median of US$ 326.17. It was impacted by material costs and the direct labor of the nurses. Conclusion: The measurement of the average direct cost of the peripherally inserted central catheter procedure shed light on the financials of consumed resources, indicating possibilities of intervention aiming to increase efficiency in allocating these resources.

Direct costs of integrated procedures of conventional hemodialysis performed by nursing professionals

Objective:

to analyze the mean direct cost of the constituent procedures of conventional hemodialysis, performed in three public teaching and research hospitals.

Method:

quantitative, exploratory-descriptive study, of the multiple case study type. The mean direct cost was calculated by multiplying the time (timed) spent by nursing professionals, on the execution of procedures, by the unit cost of direct labor, added to the cost of materials and solutions/medications.

Results:

the total mean direct cost, in patients with an arteriovenous fistula corresponded to US$25.10 in hospital A, US$37.34 in hospital B and US$25.01 in hospital C, and in patients with a dual lumen catheter, US$32.07 in hospital A, US$40.58 in hospital B and US$30.35 in hospital C. The weighted mean values obtained were US$26.59 for hospital A, US$38.96 for hospital B and US$27.68 for hospital C. It was noted that the “installation and removal of hemodialysis fistula access” caused a significantly lower economic impact compared to “installation and removal of hemodialysis catheter access”.

Conclusion:

with the knowledge developed it will be possible to support hospital managers, technical managers and nursing professionals in the decision making process, with a view to the rational allocation of the necessary inputs for the performance of conventional hemodialysis.

Direct cost of maintenance of totally implanted central venous catheter patency

OBJECTIVE

to identify the average direct cost of maintaining the patency of totally implanted central venous catheter with heparin at a Day Hospital of a public hospital of high complexity specialized in the treatment of cancer patients, and estimate the average direct cost of replacing heparin with sodium chloride 0.9%.

METHOD

quantitative, exploratory-descriptive study, with a sample of 200 non-participant observations of the maintenance of totally implanted central venous catheters with heparin. The average direct cost was calculated by multiplying the (clocked) time spent by professionals to complete the procedure by the direct unit cost of workforce, added to the cost of materials and solutions.

RESULTS

the estimated total direct cost of catheter maintenance with heparin was US$ 9.71 (SD=1.35) on average, ranging from US$ 7.98 to US$ 23.28. The estimated total direct cost of maintenance with 0.9% sodium chloride in the place of heparin was US$ 8.81 (SD=1.29) on average, resulting in a reduction of US$ 0.90 per procedure.

CONCLUSION

the results contributed to propose strategies to assist in cost containment/minimization in this procedure. The replacement of heparin by 0.9% sodium chloride proved to be an option to reduce the total average direct cost.