1. Cost efficiency of inpatient rehabilitation following acquired brain injury: the first international adaptation of the UK approach.
- Author
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Lannin NA, Crotty M, Cameron ID, Chen Z, Ratcliffe J, Morarty J, and Turner-Stokes L
- Subjects
- Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Female, Adult, Aged, Victoria, Adolescent, Young Adult, Inpatients statistics & numerical data, Rehabilitation Centers economics, United Kingdom, Prospective Studies, Length of Stay economics, Length of Stay statistics & numerical data, Brain Injuries rehabilitation, Brain Injuries economics, Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Abstract
Objectives: To adapt and apply a model for evaluating the functional benefits and cost efficiency of specialist inpatient rehabilitation to the Australian context, comparing functional outcomes and savings in the cost of ongoing care after acquired brain injury., Design: An observational cohort analysis of prospectively collected clinical data from admission to discharge, with follow-up to 3 years., Setting: A newly established state-wide inpatient postacute rehabilitation unit in Victoria, Australia for patients with moderate to severe acquired brain injury., Participants: This study included consecutive patients admitted to the programme during its first 2 years' operation (January 2016 to December 2017). Inclusion criteria consisted of complete outcome measures recorded on admission and discharge, total n=196, mean age 44.6 years (range 17-78), males:females 72:28%, aetiology:trauma n=124 (63%), stroke n=42 (21%), diffuse n=18 (9%) and other-mixed n=12 (7%)., Interventions: Specialist inpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation., Outcome Measures: Dependency and care costs: Northwick Park Dependency Scale/Care Needs Assessment (NPCNA); Functional independence: UK Functional Assessment Measure. Cost efficiency: (a) Time is taken to offset rehabilitation costs by savings in NPCNA-estimated costs of ongoing care and (b) net projected lifetime savings., Results: Median length of stay 75 (IQR: 33.5-169.5) days, mean episode costs were $A147 044 (95% CI $A126 436, $A167 652). There was a significant reduction in dependency between admission and discharge on all measures (Holm-Bonferroni corrected p<0.001) which was sustained at follow-up in those traced at 1-3 years. Savings were greatest in the highest-dependency group. Estimated mean overall reduction in 'weekly care costs' was $A7206, offsetting the cost of rehabilitation within 5.53 months (95% CI 2.27, 8.78). Mean projected net lifetime savings were $A13.4 million (95% CI $A11.4, $A15.4) per patient., Conclusions: This study provides proof of principle for use of the NPCNA cost-efficiency model outside the UK and yields further evidence that rehabilitation for patients with complex disabilities represents value for money. For every dollar spent on inpatient rehabilitation in this cohort, an estimated $A91 was saved in ongoing care costs., Competing Interests: Competing interests: There are no significant competing interests. All authors have completed the BMJ Declaration of Competing Interests form available on request from the corresponding author. Outcome measurement is a specific research interest of our centres. LT-S is Director of UKROC and was the lead developer of the NPDS, NPCNA and the UK FIM+FAM, but neither she nor her employing institution has any financial interest in the tools which are disseminated free of charge. NAL and JM are employed by the organisation where the research was undertaken. None of the authors has any personal financial interests in the work undertaken or the findings reported., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)
- Published
- 2024
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