Hye-Young Jung1, Joshua R Vest2, Mark A Unruh2, Lisa M Kern3, Rainu Kaushal4. 1. Center for Healthcare Informatics & Policy, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; Department of Healthcare Policy & Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York. Electronic address: arj2005@med.cornell.edu. 2. Center for Healthcare Informatics & Policy, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; Department of Healthcare Policy & Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York. 3. Center for Healthcare Informatics & Policy, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; Department of Healthcare Policy & Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York. 4. Center for Healthcare Informatics & Policy, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; Department of Healthcare Policy & Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to quantify the association between health information exchange (HIE) use and cost savings attributable to repeat imaging. METHODS: Imaging procedures associated with HIE were compared with concurrent controls on the basis of propensity score matching over the period from 2009 to 2010 in a longitudinal cohort study. The study sample (n = 12,620) included patients ages 18 years and older enrolled in the two largest commercial health plans in a 13-county region of western New York State served by the Rochester Regional Health Information Organization. The primary outcome was a continuous measure of costs associated with repeat imaging. The determinant of interest, HIE use, was defined as system access after the initial imaging procedure and before repeat imaging. RESULTS: HIE use was associated with an overall estimated annual savings of $32,460 in avoided repeat imaging, or $2.57 per patient. Basic imaging (radiography, ultrasound, and mammography) accounted for 85% of the estimated avoided cases of repeat imaging. Advanced imaging (CT and MRI) accounted for 13% of avoided procedures but constituted half of the estimated savings (50%). CONCLUSIONS: HIE systems may reduce costs associated with repeat imaging. Although inexpensive imaging procedures constituted the largest proportion of avoided repeat imaging in our study, most of the estimated cost savings were due to small reductions in repeated advanced imaging procedures. HIE systems will need to be leveraged in ways that facilitate greater reductions in advanced imaging to achieve appreciable cost savings.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to quantify the association between health information exchange (HIE) use and cost savings attributable to repeat imaging. METHODS: Imaging procedures associated with HIE were compared with concurrent controls on the basis of propensity score matching over the period from 2009 to 2010 in a longitudinal cohort study. The study sample (n = 12,620) included patients ages 18 years and older enrolled in the two largest commercial health plans in a 13-county region of western New York State served by the Rochester Regional Health Information Organization. The primary outcome was a continuous measure of costs associated with repeat imaging. The determinant of interest, HIE use, was defined as system access after the initial imaging procedure and before repeat imaging. RESULTS: HIE use was associated with an overall estimated annual savings of $32,460 in avoided repeat imaging, or $2.57 per patient. Basic imaging (radiography, ultrasound, and mammography) accounted for 85% of the estimated avoided cases of repeat imaging. Advanced imaging (CT and MRI) accounted for 13% of avoided procedures but constituted half of the estimated savings (50%). CONCLUSIONS: HIE systems may reduce costs associated with repeat imaging. Although inexpensive imaging procedures constituted the largest proportion of avoided repeat imaging in our study, most of the estimated cost savings were due to small reductions in repeated advanced imaging procedures. HIE systems will need to be leveraged in ways that facilitate greater reductions in advanced imaging to achieve appreciable cost savings.
Authors: James E Bailey; Jim Y Wan; Lisa M Mabry; Stephen H Landy; Rebecca A Pope; Teresa M Waters; Mark E Frisse Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2012-05-31 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: J C Sandberg; Y Ge; H T Nguyen; T A Arcury; A J Johnson; W Hwang; H D Gage; T Reynolds; J J Carr Journal: Appl Clin Inform Date: 2012-12-12 Impact factor: 2.342
Authors: Toms Vengaloor Thomas; Margie Jeanann Suggs; Ashley N Jones; Jeremy P Otts; George Russell; Srinivasan Vijayakumar; Robert Allbright Journal: Adv Radiat Oncol Date: 2020-01-21