Journal article
The Business Case for Tele-emergency
Telemedicine journal and e-health, Vol.21(12), pp.15-1011
12/01/2015
DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2014.0241
PMID: 26226603
Abstract
Background:
Tele-emergency is an expanding telehealth service that provides real-time audio/visual consultation delivered by an emergency medicine team to a remote, often rural, emergency department (ED). Financial analyses of tele-emergency in the literature are limited. This article expands the tele-emergency literature to describe the business case for tele-emergency. “Business case” is defined as a reasoned argument, supported by objective data and/or qualitative judgment, to implement or continue a service or product.
Materials and Methods:
To evaluate tele-emergency financing from the perspective of a critical access hospital (CAH), 10 financial analysis categories were defined. Telephone interviews, site visits, and financial data from the eEmergency program of Avera Health (Sioux Falls, SD) were used to populate the categories. Avera Health information was augmented with national data where available. Three financial scenarios were then analyzed for CAH profit/loss associated with tele-emergency.
Results:
Tele-emergency financial analysis demonstrated an $187,614 profit in a high revenue/low expense scenario, $49,841 profit in a midrange scenario, and $69,588 loss in a low revenue/high expense scenario.
Conclusions:
Tele-emergency may be a profitable rural hospital service line if the participating hospital adjusts ED processes to take advantage of increased revenue/savings opportunities afforded by tele-emergency. Savings due to tele-emergency primarily accrue when physician ED backup and physician ED staffing costs are substituted.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Business Case for Tele-emergency
- Creators
- A. Clinton MacKinney - 1Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaMarcia M Ward - 1Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaFred Ullrich - 1Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaPadmaja Ayyagari - 1Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IowaAmanda L Bell - 2Avera Health, Sioux Falls, South DakotaKeith J Mueller - 1Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Telemedicine journal and e-health, Vol.21(12), pp.15-1011
- DOI
- 10.1089/tmj.2014.0241
- PMID
- 26226603
- NLM abbreviation
- Telemed J E Health
- ISSN
- 1530-5627
- eISSN
- 1556-3669
- Publisher
- Mary Ann Liebert, Inc
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/01/2015
- Academic Unit
- Rural Telehealth Research Center; Health Management and Policy; Public Policy Center (Archive)
- Record Identifier
- 9984063137802771
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