The pediatric burn unit: a profit center.
BACKGROUND
Establishment of a pediatric burn center represents a major commitment of resources. The impact of a Pediatric Burn Unit on the finances of a children's hospital has never been reported and was the purpose of this study.


METHODS
Burn registry data for patients discharged from our Pediatric Burn Unit from 2000 to 2002 were integrated with financial and administrative data. Reimbursement was determined by calculating expected payments for each patient. The relationship between percent total body surface area (TBSA) burned and profit/loss margin was evaluated using regression analysis.


RESULTS
During the study period, 264 pediatric burn patients were admitted to our burn service. One hundred forty-three (54%) had less than 10% TBSA burned, and their average loss margin was -179.03 dollars per patient. The 121 patients (46%) who had greater than 10% TBSA burned had an average profit margin of +349.68 dollars per patient (P =.22, SE+ 605.03) Patients treated operatively (49; 18%) had a profit margin of +2237.77 dollars per patient, whereas patients treated nonoperatively (215; 81%) had a profit margin of -432.30 dollars per patient (P =.0007, SE +249.65) The overall profit margin was +63.88 dollars per patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Our pediatric burn service covered all hospital fixed costs and made a small profit. Pediatric burn care can be a profit center for children's hospitals. Investment in a Pediatric Burn Program provides adequate financial return for the hospital.
Corpron
Cynthia A
CA
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.
Martin
Abigail E
AE
Roberts
Georgianna
G
Besner
Gail E
GE
D002053:Burn Units / Q000191:economics*; D002056:Burns / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000191:economics*; D006777:Hospitals, Proprietary / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000191:economics; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics; D008484:Medicaid / Q000191:economics; D009820:Ohio; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index