Cost-effective analysis of conventional and nurse-led clinics for common otological procedures.
The need to reduce costs while providing a first-class service has led to the expansion in the role of nurses in recent years. We present results of a comparison of the cost-effectiveness of conventional and nurse-led out-patient ear clinics. Our results indicate that cost-effective health care is a distinct competitive advantage for nurses taking up some roles conventionally performed by doctors. The difference in mean cost of out-patient visit per patient between the two groups is 75.28 pounds. This is equivalent to a reduction in cost to the hospital of more than 47,000 pounds for the 626 patients seen in a nurse-led ear clinic in a year. The nurse-led service is thus more cost-effective and presents an opportunity by freeing up otolaryngologists' time to see more complex patients and has the potential for reducing out-patient access time in the NHS.
Uppal
S
S
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, York Hospital, York, UK. uppalsandeep@yahoo.com
Jose
J
J
Banks
P
P
Mackay
E
E
Coatesworth
A P
AP
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000191:economics