title: Cost-effectiveness of a new internet-based monitoring tool for neonatal post-discharge home care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The application of information and communication technologies in nursing care is becoming more widespread, but few applications have been reported in neonatal care. A close monitoring of newborns within the first weeks of life is crucial to evaluating correct feeding, growth, and health status. Conventional hospital-based postdischarge monitoring could be improved in terms of costs and clinical effectiveness by using a telemedicine approach.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a new Internet-based system for monitoring low-risk newborns after discharge compared to the standard hospital-based follow-up, with specific attention to prevention of emergency department (ED) visits in the first month of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective cohort study of two low-risk newborn patient groups. One group, born between January 1, 2011, and June 30, 2011, received the standard hospital-based follow-up visit within 48 hours after discharge. After implementing an Internet-based monitoring system, another group, born between July 19, 2011, and January 19, 2012, received their follow-up with this system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 18 (15.8%) out of 114 newborns who received the standard hospital-based follow-up had an ED visit in the first month of life compared with 5 (5.6%; P=.026) out of 90 infants who were monitored by the Internet-based system. The cost of the hospital-based follow-up was 182.1€ per patient, compared with 86.1€ for the Internet-based follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our Internet-based monitoring approach proved to be both more effective and less costly than the conventional hospital-based follow-up, particularly through reducing subsequent ED visits.
authors: Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Isetta
authors: Carme
authors: C
authors: Lopez-Agustina
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Lopez-Bernal
authors: Maribel
authors: M
authors: Amat
authors: Montserrat
authors: M
authors: Vila
authors: Carme
authors: C
authors: Valls
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Navajas
authors: Ramon
authors: R
authors: Farre
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000191:economics*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020407:Internet; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics*