BACKGROUND: Children and the elderly are more likely to be underinsured compared with the general population of trauma patients. We performed financial analysis on all trauma patients admitted during an 18-month period to a Level I adult and pediatric trauma center to evaluate the financial impact of providing trauma care for children and the elderly. METHODS: Patients were categorized by age: PEDI<17 years, GERI>64 years and MID = 17 to 64 years. Reimbursement ratio (RR = reimbursement/cost; RR>1 = profit, RR<1 = loss), length of stay (LOS), and Injury Severity Score (ISS) were calculated for each age group. RESULTS: RR for GERI (RR = 0.99) was significantly lower than for PEDI (RR = 1.15) and MID (RR = 1.16). There was no difference in ISS, but the LOS of GERI was greater than that of PEDI and MID (p<0.05). Cost per patient and LOS were less in PEDI versus MID and GERI (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Trauma care reimbursement for the elderly is inadequate, whereas pediatric trauma care costs less to deliver and is profitable to the trauma center.
BACKGROUND:Children and the elderly are more likely to be underinsured compared with the general population of traumapatients. We performed financial analysis on all traumapatients admitted during an 18-month period to a Level I adult and pediatric trauma center to evaluate the financial impact of providing trauma care for children and the elderly. METHODS:Patients were categorized by age: PEDI<17 years, GERI>64 years and MID = 17 to 64 years. Reimbursement ratio (RR = reimbursement/cost; RR>1 = profit, RR<1 = loss), length of stay (LOS), and Injury Severity Score (ISS) were calculated for each age group. RESULTS: RR for GERI (RR = 0.99) was significantly lower than for PEDI (RR = 1.15) and MID (RR = 1.16). There was no difference in ISS, but the LOS of GERI was greater than that of PEDI and MID (p<0.05). Cost per patient and LOS were less in PEDI versus MID and GERI (p<0.05). CONCLUSION:Trauma care reimbursement for the elderly is inadequate, whereas pediatric trauma care costs less to deliver and is profitable to the trauma center.
Authors: Johanna M M Nijboer; Corry K van der Sluis; Pieter U Dijkstra; Hendrik-Jan Ten Duis Journal: Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg Date: 2008-03-18 Impact factor: 3.693
Authors: Lynsey Willenberg; Kate Curtis; Colman Taylor; Stephen Jan; Parisa Glass; John Myburgh Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2012-08-21 Impact factor: 2.655