Cost effectiveness of home care versus hospital care: a retrospective analysis

Abstract Background Increased utilization of health services due to population growth affects the allocation of national resources and budgets. Hence, it is important for national policy. Home hospitalization is one of the solutions for dealing with the growing demand for hospital beds and reducing...

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Main Authors: Iris Megido, Yael Sela, Keren Grinberg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-02-01
Series:Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12962-023-00424-0
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author Iris Megido
Yael Sela
Keren Grinberg
author_facet Iris Megido
Yael Sela
Keren Grinberg
author_sort Iris Megido
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Increased utilization of health services due to population growth affects the allocation of national resources and budgets. Hence, it is important for national policy. Home hospitalization is one of the solutions for dealing with the growing demand for hospital beds and reducing the duration of hospitalization and its costs. It is gradually becoming part of the regular care in many health systems, yet, studies on the economic aspects of Community-Based Home Hospitalization (CBHH) implementation in Israel are few. The aim of this study is to examine costs of CBHH in comparison to costs of inpatient hospital care in the Israeli public health system. Methods Retrospective data was collected using document research in databases. A review of the costs of patients in CBHH at Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS) was conducted. A total of 3374 patients were included in this study: 1687 patients who were in CBHH, and 1687 age- and sex-matched patients who were hospitalized in an internal department (the control group). The study population included the patients admitted to CBHH from January 2018 to July 2020, and patients admitted to internal medicine departments during the same period. Results The number of hospitalizations during the follow up period were statistically significantly lower in the CBHH group compared with the control group (M = 1.18, SD = 0.56 vs. M = 1.61, SD = 1.29, p < 0.001). In addition, the mean number of hospitalization days was also statistically significantly lower for 4.3 (SD = 4.5) for CBHH patients compared to the control group (M = 4.3 days, SD = 4.5 vs. M = 7.5 days, SD = 10.3, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the mean cost per day was statistically significantly higher for inpatient hospitalization compared to CBHH (M = 1829.1, SD = 87.5 vs. M = 783.2, SD = 178.3, p < 0.001). Older patients, patients with diabetes and patients hospitalized in hospitals had a higher number of hospitalization days. Conclusions The costs of CBHH seem to be lower than those of inpatient care. Managing CBHH is characterized by constantly measuring financial feasibility that would be an impetus for further development of this service.
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spelling doaj.art-70e686b446464e678b9112d18191426e2023-02-05T12:14:17ZengBMCCost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation1478-75472023-02-012111810.1186/s12962-023-00424-0Cost effectiveness of home care versus hospital care: a retrospective analysisIris Megido0Yael Sela1Keren Grinberg2Operating Division, Maccabi Healthcare ServicesDepartment of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Social and Community Science, Ruppin Academic CenterDepartment of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Social and Community Science, Ruppin Academic CenterAbstract Background Increased utilization of health services due to population growth affects the allocation of national resources and budgets. Hence, it is important for national policy. Home hospitalization is one of the solutions for dealing with the growing demand for hospital beds and reducing the duration of hospitalization and its costs. It is gradually becoming part of the regular care in many health systems, yet, studies on the economic aspects of Community-Based Home Hospitalization (CBHH) implementation in Israel are few. The aim of this study is to examine costs of CBHH in comparison to costs of inpatient hospital care in the Israeli public health system. Methods Retrospective data was collected using document research in databases. A review of the costs of patients in CBHH at Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS) was conducted. A total of 3374 patients were included in this study: 1687 patients who were in CBHH, and 1687 age- and sex-matched patients who were hospitalized in an internal department (the control group). The study population included the patients admitted to CBHH from January 2018 to July 2020, and patients admitted to internal medicine departments during the same period. Results The number of hospitalizations during the follow up period were statistically significantly lower in the CBHH group compared with the control group (M = 1.18, SD = 0.56 vs. M = 1.61, SD = 1.29, p < 0.001). In addition, the mean number of hospitalization days was also statistically significantly lower for 4.3 (SD = 4.5) for CBHH patients compared to the control group (M = 4.3 days, SD = 4.5 vs. M = 7.5 days, SD = 10.3, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the mean cost per day was statistically significantly higher for inpatient hospitalization compared to CBHH (M = 1829.1, SD = 87.5 vs. M = 783.2, SD = 178.3, p < 0.001). Older patients, patients with diabetes and patients hospitalized in hospitals had a higher number of hospitalization days. Conclusions The costs of CBHH seem to be lower than those of inpatient care. Managing CBHH is characterized by constantly measuring financial feasibility that would be an impetus for further development of this service.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12962-023-00424-0
spellingShingle Iris Megido
Yael Sela
Keren Grinberg
Cost effectiveness of home care versus hospital care: a retrospective analysis
Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation
title Cost effectiveness of home care versus hospital care: a retrospective analysis
title_full Cost effectiveness of home care versus hospital care: a retrospective analysis
title_fullStr Cost effectiveness of home care versus hospital care: a retrospective analysis
title_full_unstemmed Cost effectiveness of home care versus hospital care: a retrospective analysis
title_short Cost effectiveness of home care versus hospital care: a retrospective analysis
title_sort cost effectiveness of home care versus hospital care a retrospective analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12962-023-00424-0
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