Financial Benefits of a Hepatopancreaticobiliary Program

• Published in: The American surgeon Vol. 82; no. 5; pp. 380 - 385
• Main Authors: Rosemurgy, Alexander S., Ryan, Carrie E., Klein, Richard L., Wood, Thomas W., Co, Franka, Ross, Sharona B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.05.2016; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Accounting; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic - economics; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic - statistics & numerical data; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Databases, Factual; Economics, Hospital - organization & administration; Female; Financial Statements; Florida; Health facilities; Hepatectomy - economics; Hepatectomy - statistics & numerical data; Hospital Costs; Hospital Units - organization & administration; Hospitals, High-Volume; Humans; Male; Net income; Opportunity costs; Pancreaticoduodenectomy - economics; Pancreaticoduodenectomy - statistics & numerical data; Physicians; Program Evaluation; Retrospective Studies; Surgery
• ISSN: 0003-1348; 1555-9823
• DOI: 10.1177/000313481608200509

Financial implications of developing a hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) center have not been considered. We undertook this study to determine hospital income associated with a new HPB center and to gauge the opportunity cost associated with such a center. Operations included were based on the HPB fellowship curriculum and the six most commonly undertaken general surgery operations. The income with “core” HPB operations (n = 93) and the six most frequently undertaken general surgery operations (n = 583) at one hospital from June 2012 to June 2013 were determined. Patients were not screened based on the ability to pay. Data are reported as mean ± standard deviation. Per operation, hospital income with HPB operations and general surgery operations were $15,583.20 ± $45,909.41 and $5,162.22 ± $33,679.10 (P < 0.005), respectively. Accordingly, net incomes of $1,449,238.04 (n = 93) and $3,009,572.78 (n = 583) were observed. Although general surgery operations are ubiquitous, HPB centers are uncommonly pursued at most hospitals, in part due to the patient volumes necessary to meet the expertise required. A “core” HPB operation produces triple the net income of a general surgery operation. Accordingly, significant financial benefit is achievable with the development of an HPB center when adequate volume is realized.