Telemedicine ECG triage beating the costs
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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 695, p9 - 1 Feb 2014 Telemedicine ECG triage beating the costs A telemedicine electrocardiogram (ECG) triage support for the public emergency medical service in the Apulia region * of Italy reduces costs and saves lives, according to research published in Clinical Cardiology. The study included data from 109 750 patients who called the emergency service during 2012 and underwent prehospital field triage with a telemedicine ECG. The ECGs were read by a remote cardiologist available 24/7. Patients with normal findings were discharged from the ambulance while those with acute cardiovascular disease were transported for treatment. Costs of prehospital triage with telemedicine support were subtracted from the cost of conventional care in the emergency department. Over the 1-year time period, €1 833 33 was reimbursed to patients treated by the telemedicine triage, equivalent to €16.7 per patient – considerably less that the cost for conventional care which was estimated to cost between €2 725 093 to €6 052 713. Additionally, the researchers say that 69 lives could have be saved because of prehospital diagnosis of acute ST- elevation myocardial infarction. * a region of 4 million covered by a single public healthcare service Brunetti ND, et al. Prehospital Telemedicine Electrocardiogram Triage for a Regional Public Emergency Medical Service: Is It Worth It? A Preliminary Cost Analysis. Clinical Cardiology : 22 Jan 2014 803099032 1 PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 1 Feb 2014 No. 695 1173-5503/14/0695-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2014 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
Transcript of Telemedicine ECG triage beating the costs
PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 695, p9 - 1 Feb 2014
Telemedicine ECG triage beatingthe costs
A telemedicine electrocardiogram (ECG) triagesupport for the public emergency medical service in theApulia region* of Italy reduces costs and saves lives,according to research published in Clinical Cardiology.
The study included data from 109 750 patients whocalled the emergency service during 2012 andunderwent prehospital field triage with a telemedicineECG. The ECGs were read by a remote cardiologistavailable 24/7. Patients with normal findings weredischarged from the ambulance while those with acutecardiovascular disease were transported for treatment.Costs of prehospital triage with telemedicine supportwere subtracted from the cost of conventional care inthe emergency department.
Over the 1-year time period, €1 833 33 wasreimbursed to patients treated by the telemedicinetriage, equivalent to €16.7 per patient – considerablyless that the cost for conventional care which wasestimated to cost between €2 725 093 to €6 052 713.Additionally, the researchers say that 69 lives could havebe saved because of prehospital diagnosis of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.* a region of 4 million covered by a single public healthcare service
Brunetti ND, et al. Prehospital Telemedicine Electrocardiogram Triage for aRegional Public Emergency Medical Service: Is It Worth It? A Preliminary CostAnalysis. Clinical Cardiology : 22 Jan 2014 803099032
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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 1 Feb 2014 No. 6951173-5503/14/0695-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2014 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
