title: The economic and clinical benefits of portable head/neck CT imaging in the intensive care unit.
abstract: * There is a 13% morbidity associated with transporting critically-ill patients outside of the ICU. The incidence of adverse events during transport specifically for CT imaging is as high as 71%. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of a portable CT scanner designated to perform bedside imaging in the ICU. * A fully mobile 8-slice head/neck CT scanner was evaluated for efficiency and personnel allocation. The return-on-investment for the purchase of the portable scanner was calculated. * Data demonstrates that the introduction of a portable CT scanner in the ICU is feasible and cost-effective. At the Cleveland Clinic in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, the portable scanner provided a full return-on-investment within the first 6.9 months of its operation, an internal rate of return of 169%, and a 5 year expected economic benefit of $2,619,290.
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Clinic, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masaryk
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kolonick
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Painter
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Weinreb
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009333:Neck; D009820:Ohio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000191:economics* / Q000295:instrumentation*