Unpleasant Arithmetic Of Medical Innovation

Main Category: MRI / PET / Ultrasound
Article Date: 31 Jul 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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Three to five million central lines are placed into people's hearts in the United States every year. Some have complications, and these are costly. There are two methods of placement, ultrasound guided placement, and placement by hand, or the 'landmark' technique. Ultrasound guidance has fewer complications, but is more expensive. A recent study has asked how much would be saved in complications if every central line were placed by the ultrasound technique.

The study, "Ultrasound Guided Central Line Placement versus Standard Landmark Technique: Some Unpleasant Arithmetic for the Economics of Medical Innovation", set out to measure the cost of ultrasound guided central line placement using Medicare reimbursement data. This study, which is published in Value in Health, has costed-out the impact of these complications nationally based on US Medicare data reveals the initial 'cost' of placing central lines was found to be $390,780,000 - $651,300,000 dollars per year by the landmark technique, as compared to $494,820,000 - $824,700,000 dollars per year by ultrasound guidance. The study was co-authored by Stephen Kinsella and Nicholas Young, of the University of Limerick, Ireland, and Colorado, USA.

Says Dr. Young: "We hope this research spurs other costing studies in this area, at a time when curbing medical inflation has such a high national priority."

Value in Health (ISSN 1098-3015) publishes papers, concepts, and ideas that advance the field of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research and help health care leaders to make decisions that are solidly evidence-based. The journal is published bi-monthly and has a regular readership of over 3,000 clinicians, decision-makers, and researchers worldwide.

ISPOR is a nonprofit, international organization that strives to translate pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research into practice to ensure that society allocates scarce health care resources wisely, fairly, and efficiently.

Value in Health Volume 12 Issue 1 - January/February 2009
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http://www.stephenkinsella.net
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