The cost of an intensive care unit: A prospective study

Abstract

The cost of intensive care for patients admitted to the ICU were estimated. Patients suffering from severe combined acute respiratory and renal failure who required mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy (SCARRF-D) cost per day significantly more than non-renal patients (pounds 938 compared to pounds 653 per patient respectively) and their average length of stay in hospital is nearly 4 times as long (28.8 compared to 7.6 days respectively). Approximately 44% of the total cost was staff related (28% for the provision of nurses and 16% for the rest). Retrieving information related to cost was difficult, time consuming and labour intensive.

Cost of acute renal failure requiring dialysis in the intensive care unit: Clinical and resource implications of renal recovery*

“…This mortality rate and cost per patient is in keeping with previous estimates (13,25). Our study shows that CRRT costs at least $3,500 per week, largely due to supplies.…”

Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy: Cost Considerations and Reimbursement

“…We have calculated an experience-based cost of CRRT and compared that to costs for IHD and APD. Others have reported on similar comparisons (1)(2)(3)(4). We hope that this information will be useful to individual dialysis centers and will initiate discussions which facilitate a more standardized approach in the future.…”

Cost evaluation in the intensive care units of Trinidad applying the cost‐blocks method – an international comparison*

“…Bed occupancy varies widely between countries according to the method used to calculate the length of stay in ICU, and one should be careful in interpreting it [1, 26]. As noted in a previous study, data collection for costs is very cumbersome [27] and is susceptible to errors, especially with varying interpretations of the definitions. We strove to minimise this error.…”