What Are the Costs and Benefits of a Regional Oximetry Solution?
Purchasing new technology for a high-acuity patient care setting can be complex. And cost is one of the first considerations in deciding whether to adopt regional oximetry for a clinical practice. And when a technology isn’t required or considered a standard of care, it can be hard to justify the cost.
But there can be significant benefits of adopting regional oximetry. In this blog, we outline key factors that can help you determine the total cost and benefits of adopting this technology for your clinical practice. Major components to consider during your decision process include:
- Cost of the monitor and patient sensors
- Cost per patient
- Potential cost reduction by avoiding complications and improving patient outcomes
Related: What is the impact of regional oximetry monitoring on cardiac surgical complications? Download this analysis of clinical and cost end points/outcomes.
How Much Does a Regional Oximetry Monitor Cost?
In estimating the total cost of purchasing and installing regional oximetry in your area of care, you’ll want to consider:
- Monitor cost
- Specialized mounting needs
- Electronic medical record (EMR) interface requirements
There are five manufacturers of regional oximeters available in the United States. The cost per monitor ranges from about $10,000 to more than $20,000.
Specialized mounting options, such as roll stands and wall mounts, cost between $300 and $900 each. We recommend mounting the monitor to optimize visibility of the display and to secure it — especially in often crowded patient care areas.
Connecting standalone monitors to your hospital EMR system is often required. Consider monitors on the front end of your purchase. Despite its benefits to patients and your OR, regional oximetry is not viewed as a standard monitoring parameter. So some EMR systems don’t have an established interface solution for regional oximeters.
The more common EMR systems — such as Epic and Cerner — have active interface solutions. Cost to interface depends on the EMR system and can vary. You should contact your EMR support or your IT department for an accurate cost estimate. Any cable or adapters required to connect the INVOS™ regional oximetry solution with EMRs are less than $75 each.
Related: Want to learn more about how INVOS™ technology provides immediate, actionable clinical information? Click here.
How Much Do Patient Sensors Cost?
Sensors for regional oximeters vary in cost depending on how they will be used. An adult sensor costs between $60 and $90 each, and an infant/pediatric sensor costs between $110 and $140 each.
During cardiac surgery, bilateral cerebral monitoring is recommended and requires two sensors per patient. When monitoring pediatric or infant patients in the ICU, cerebral and somatic monitoring is advised and requires two sensors per patient.
INVOS™ system sensors fall into the cost range noted above. Like the monitor, your exact price will depend in large part on your group purchasing organization (GPO) affiliation.
Are There Any Recurring Maintenance Costs?
Recurring regional oximeter maintenance costs are mostly related to battery replacement, which is typically around $500 every five years or so. Available regional oximeters range from one to five years:
- Masimo’s Root™* monitor has a one-year warranty, and the battery is warranted for six months.
- The warranty period for CASMed’s Fore-Sight™* elite regional oximeter is two years and the Nonin Equanox SenSmart™* monitor is three years.
- The INVOS™ system monitor comes with a standard five-year parts and labor warranty. This covers the monitor, pre-amp patient modules, and back-up battery.
Related: Learn the benefits of using the INVOS™ regional oximetry system to detect ischemic events. Download the brochure.
How Much Does an INVOSTM 7100 Regional Oximeter Cost?
The cost of an INVOS™ 7100 regional oximeter ranges from about $17,500 to $25,000. Cost depends on GPO affiliation, the volume of sensors purchased, and the number of monitors purchased. The INVOS™ monitor cost can be less than $17,500 in some transactions if part of a larger monitoring project or if refurbished equipment is included.
Is There a Cost Benefit of Monitoring Patients with Regional Oximetry?
There can be significant financial benefit in avoiding complications and reducing resource use.
A recent retrospective analysis of INVOS™ regional oximetry solution use during cardiac surgery demonstrated a reduction in postoperative complications. It also provided an estimate of cost savings from avoiding complications. The analysis demonstrated avoidance of several specific complications such as, stroke, kidney failure, and prolonged mechanical ventilation.1
For example, analysis revealed a 50 percent decrease in kidney failure versus the expected occurrence (106 cases versus 232 cases) when INVOS™ monitoring was used. This complication could potentially cost $33,000 per case.
© 2018 Medtronic. All rights reserved. Medtronic, Medtronic logo and Further, Together are trademarks of Medtronic.™* Third party brands are trademarks of their respective owners. All other brands are trademarks of a Medtronic company. 11/2018-18-PM-0213a
References:
1. Theodoro, D, Palmer R. Improving Value Through Cerebral Oximetry Monitoring: Mitigating Surgical Complications in the Cardiac Operating Room. Harvard Health Policy Review. January 7, 2018.