Cost-effectiveness of telemonitoring for high-risk pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
Cost-minimization is a main topic in present-day health care. Clinicians are urged to keep hospital stays as short as possible, also in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Departments. At present stabilized high-risk pregnant women stay in hospital for the sole purpose of being monitored.


METHODS
In this retrospective study the cost-effectiveness of telemonitoring of such high-risk pregnant women was calculated by analyzing the data of 456 episodes originating from 415 patients of the Ghent University Hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
It was determined that telemonitoring made a cost-reduction of euro 145,822 per year possible. However, variables such as educational level, psychosocial situation, time-travel distance from home to the hospital, reimbursement system and actual clinical status were not included. Furthermore, the Belgian health authorities does not provide for a specific code to allow the billing of teleinterpretation of transmitted results.
Buysse
Heidi
H
Department of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Ghent University, Buysse Heidi, 5K3-De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Heidi.Buysse@UGent.be
De Moor
Georges
G
Van Maele
Georges
G
Baert
Erik
E
Thienpont
Geert
G
Temmerman
Marleen
M
D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data