Estimation of unreimbursed patient education costs at a large group practice.
BACKGROUND
A search of the literature on the cost of patient education found that provider education time per patient per day was rarely reported and usually not derivable from published reports. Costs of continuing education needed by health professionals to support patient education also were not given. Without this information, it is difficult to appraise the costs of existing or newly proposed patient education activities and technologies.


METHODS
An extensive literature search was conducted. Clinic and hospital personnel at a large group practice were surveyed to obtain per patient per day estimates for comparison with the literature.


RESULTS
Although the literature now spans several disciplines, few useful empiric studies exist. In the group practice, 18.6 minutes per patient per day were spent on patient education. Unreimbursed cost of patient education by nurses alone was $28,258,478 to $48,710,368 annually. These costs do not include costs of continuing education to maintain and upgrade patient education.


CONCLUSIONS
The cost figures reported above are consistent with the limited information in the literature. The present study suggests that patient education costs are substantial, and more attention needs to be given to the costs of continuing education intended to improve patient education.
Williams
Arthur R
AR
Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
McDougall
John C
JC
Bruggeman
Sandra K
SK
Erwin
Patricia J
PJ
Kroshus
Margo E
ME
Naessens
James M
JM
D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000191:economics*; D006123:Group Practice / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000191:economics*; D013997:Time Factors