title: Re-evaluating the cost of outpatient cancer chemotherapy.
abstract: Chemotherapy for common malignant tumours has historically been considered relatively expensive. An examination of costs at the Toronto-Bayview Regional Cancer Centre and Sunnybrook Medical Centre, Toronto, suggests that this perception is not accurate. The cost of chemotherapeutic agents administered on an outpatient basis over 4 to 6 months in established drug protocols ranged from $260 to $5374 (mean $2224). The total cost of outpatient administration was estimated to be $152.53 per dose, compared with $185.39 for inpatient administration of the same protocol, a difference of 22%. The difference was predominantly due to a higher allocated per-diem charge at the medical centre. The results indicate that outpatient administration reduces the overall cost of chemotherapy.
authors: Department of Administration, Toronto-Bayview Regional Cancer Centre, Ont.
authors: H B
authors: HB
authors: Wodinsky
authors: C
authors: C
authors: DeAngelis
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Rusthoven
authors: I G
authors: IG
authors: Kerr
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Sutherland
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Iscoe
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Buckman
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kornijenko
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005249:Fees and Charges; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*