Esophagogastroduodenoscopy by a family physician: a case series demonstrating health care savings

Rural Army community hospitals without gastroenterologists require civilian referrals for esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs). The goal was to determine whether an endoscopy-trained, military family physician saved health care dollars at an Army community hospital by decreasing outside referrals. We...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Military medicine 2007-08, Vol.172 (8), p.888-891
Main Authors: Runser, Lloyd A, Short, Matthew W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biopsy
Community
Cost control
Delivery of Health Care
Endoscopy
Endoscopy, Digestive System
Gastroenterology
Hospital costs
Hospitals, Military
Humans
Medical education
Medical records
Medical referrals
Medicine
Military Personnel
Opportunity costs
Pathology
Patients
Physicians
Physicians, Family
Reimbursement
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Rural Army community hospitals without gastroenterologists require civilian referrals for esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs). The goal was to determine whether an endoscopy-trained, military family physician saved health care dollars at an Army community hospital by decreasing outside referrals. We present a chart review of all 95 EGDs performed by a family physician at an Army community hospital between September 2003 and May 2005. The total facility cost was determined by using the cost of personnel, lost clinic hours, equipment, supplies, medications, continuing medical education, missed diagnoses, procedure complications, and need for additional referrals. The potential referral cost was determined by using local civilian endoscopy billing codes and TRICARE reimbursement rates for 2004. The total facility cost was $22,655.65 ($238.48 per EGD). The total referral cost would have been $55,614.95 ($585.42 per EGD). Using a family physician saved the hospital $32,959.30 ($346.94 per EGD). An endoscopy-trained family physician saved significant health care dollars at an Army community hospital.
ISSN:0026-4075
1930-613X
DOI:10.7205/MILMED.172.8.888