title: Comparison of an organized geriatric fracture program to United States government data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study describes the financial impact of an organized hip fracture program for elderly patients age 65 years and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study of 797 fractures in 776 consecutive patients over a 50-month period (May 2005 to July 2009) treated in an organized hip fracture program for the elderly identified from a quality management database. Financial, demographic, and quality-of-care data were collected. The length of hospital stay, in-hospital complications, and Charlson comorbidity scores were collected from patient records, and all data were evaluated using standard statistical methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  261-bed community-based, university-affiliated teaching hospital in an urban setting with a catchment area of approximately 1 million persons. This is a level 3 trauma center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average total net revenue per hip fracture was $12 159, with an average total cost to hospital of $8264. Physicians' fees consisted of fees collected by surgeons, anesthesiologists, medical specialty consultants, and consulting geriatricians and averaged $2024 per case. Thus, the average hospital charge to payers was $15 188. Compared to Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality average inpatient hospital costs in 2005 of $33 693, a savings of more than $18 000 was realized per patient. The average length of stay was 4.6 days, markedly less than the national average of 6.2 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This organized geriatric fracture care model with geriatrics comanagement resulted in significant cost savings over a 50-month period, with associated increased quality. With an estimated 330 000 hip fractures annually in the United States, a large cost savings could potentially be realized if this model were more widely applied.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Department of Orthopaedics & Division of Geriatrics, Highland Hospital, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kates
authors.forename: Deidre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.forename: Karilee W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Bingham
authors.forename: Olivia S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Kates
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mendelson
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Friedman
keywords: costs of care; economics of medicine; fragility fractures; geriatric trauma; hip fractures; systems of care