Lucy Su1, Sunil W Dutta1, Jason C Sanders1, Trudy Wu2, Bruce Libby1, Kara D Romano1, Timothy N Showalter3. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA. 2. Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. 3. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA. Electronic address: tns3b@virginia.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Adjuvant vaginal cuff brachytherapy is well tolerated and reduces the risk of local recurrence in endometrial cancer. However, there is provider variation in the number of radiation treatments, which ranges from three to six fractions. Using time-driven activity-based costing, we calculated the cost to deliver three vs six fractions to determine the value of each regimen at our brachytherapy suite with CT-on-rails. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Process maps were created to represent each step from initial consult to completion of therapy. Components of care included personnel, equipment, and consumable supplies. The capacity cost rate was determined for each resource and calculated for each regimen. RESULTS: The total direct costs to deliver three- and six-fraction treatment courses were $1,415 and $2,227, respectively. Personnel cost accounted for 63% of overall expenditures. Computed tomography simulation and planning, required for the first fraction, cost $232 for both regimens. Duties of the procedural nurse (scheduling, patient setup, and turnover) consumed the most time at 35% of total personnel minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Time-driven activity-based cost analysis revealed a 57% relative increase, but modest absolute increase, in delivery costs for six vs three fractions of brachytherapy at our institution. This current analysis may influence considerations of the relative value between the two treatment schedules, but this methodology should not be interpreted as informative for reimbursement policy evaluation.
PURPOSE: Adjuvant vaginal cuff brachytherapy is well tolerated and reduces the risk of local recurrence in endometrial cancer. However, there is provider variation in the number of radiation treatments, which ranges from three to six fractions. Using time-driven activity-based costing, we calculated the cost to deliver three vs six fractions to determine the value of each regimen at our brachytherapy suite with CT-on-rails. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Process maps were created to represent each step from initial consult to completion of therapy. Components of care included personnel, equipment, and consumable supplies. The capacity cost rate was determined for each resource and calculated for each regimen. RESULTS: The total direct costs to deliver three- and six-fraction treatment courses were $1,415 and $2,227, respectively. Personnel cost accounted for 63% of overall expenditures. Computed tomography simulation and planning, required for the first fraction, cost $232 for both regimens. Duties of the procedural nurse (scheduling, patient setup, and turnover) consumed the most time at 35% of total personnel minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Time-driven activity-based cost analysis revealed a 57% relative increase, but modest absolute increase, in delivery costs for six vs three fractions of brachytherapy at our institution. This current analysis may influence considerations of the relative value between the two treatment schedules, but this methodology should not be interpreted as informative for reimbursement policy evaluation.
Authors: Gabriella C Squeo; Courtney M Lattimore; Nicole L Simone; Greg Suralik; Sunil W Dutta; Michael D Schad; Lucy Su; Bruce Libby; Einsley-Marie Janowski; Shayna L Showalter; Jennifer M Lobo; Timothy N Showalter Journal: Brachytherapy Date: 2022-02-04 Impact factor: 2.441