Open AccessCosts of a clinical pathway with point‐of‐care testing during influenza epidemic in a Dutch hospital
Author(s) -
Marbus Sierk D.,
Lutgens Suzanne P. M.,
GageldonkLafeber Arianne B.,
Hazenberg Eric H. L. C. M.,
Hermans Mirjam H. A.,
Suijkerbuijk Anita W. M.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
influenza and other respiratory viruses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.743
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1750-2659
pISSN - 1750-2640
DOI - 10.1111/irv.12808
Subject(s) - point of care testing , medicine , emergency department , emergency medicine , clinical pathway , diagnostic test , intensive care medicine , medical emergency , immunology , nursing
Our study aim was to determine how a new clinical pathway, including PCR‐based influenza point‐of‐care test (POCT), influences the hospitalisation costs of patients suspected of influenza presenting at the emergency department of a Dutch hospital during two consecutive influenza epidemics (2016‐2017 and 2017‐2018). Compared to mean costs per patient of €3661 in 2016‐2017, the implementation of this new clinical pathway with influenza POCT in 2017 was associated with mean costs per influenza‐positive patient of €2495 in 2017‐2018 ( P = .3). Our study suggests favourable economic results regarding a new clinical pathway with influenza POCT, reflecting a more efficient care of patients suspected of influenza presenting at the emergency department.