Analysis of the Costs and Payments of a Coordinated Stroke Center and Regional Stroke Network

• Published in: Stroke (1970) Vol. 44; no. 8; pp. 2254 - 2259
• Main Authors: Rymer, Marilyn M, Armstrong, Edward P, Meredith, Neil R, Pham, Sissi V, Thorpe, Kevin, Kruzikas, Denise T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD American Heart Association, Inc 01.08.2013; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Ischemia - economics; Brain Ischemia - therapy; Costs and Cost Analysis; Female; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Health Expenditures; Hospital Costs; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Retrospective Studies; Stroke - economics; Stroke - therapy; Tertiary Care Centers - economics; Tertiary Care Centers - standards; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system; Stroke; Costs; Nervous system diseases; cost; Serine endopeptidases; Enzyme; thrombolytic; Cardiovascular disease; t-Plasminogen activator; Cerebral disorder; Vascular disease; Peptidases; Central nervous system disease; Hydrolases; guidelines; Cost analysis; tissue-type plasminogen activator; Cerebrovascular disease; stroke
• ISSN: 0039-2499; 1524-4628
• DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.113.001370

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE—An earlier study demonstrated significantly improved access, treatment, and outcomes after the implementation of a progressive, comprehensive stroke program at a tertiary care community hospital, Saint Luke’s Neuroscience Institute (SLNI). This study evaluated the costs associated with implementing such a program. METHODS—Retrospective analysis of total hospital costs and payments for treating patients with ischemic stroke at SLNI (n=1570) as program enhancement evolved over time (2005, 2007, and 2010) and compared with published national estimates. Analyses were stratified by patient demographic characteristics, patient outcomes, treatments, time, and comorbidities. RESULTS—Controlling for inflation, there was no difference in SLNI total costs between 2005 and either 2007 or 2010, suggesting that while SLNI provided an increased level of services, any additional expenditures were offset by efficiencies. SLNI total costs were slightly lower than published benchmarks. Consistent with previous stroke care cost estimates, the median overall differential between total hospital costs and payments for all ischemic stroke cases was negative. CONCLUSIONS—SLNI total costs remained consistent over time and were slightly lower than previously published estimates, suggesting that a focused, streamlined stroke program can be implemented without a significant economic impact. This finding further demonstrates that providing comprehensive stroke care with improved access and treatment may be financially feasible for other hospitals.