Affiliations: [a] Department of Pediatrics, Joan C Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| [b] Department of Finance, Cabell Huntington Hospital, Huntington, WV, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Joseph Werthammer, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Joan C Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University, 1600 Medical Center Drive, Suite 3500, Huntington, WV 25701, USA. Tel.: +1 304 691 1602; Fax: +1 304 691 1725; E-mail: werthammer@marshall.edu.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine the hospital cost and distribution of financial charges for the initial hospitalization of the surviving periviable neonate. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective case series, we analyzed medical records and financial data for neonates 23–25 weeks’ gestational age in a single tertiary care NICU over 42 months. A detailed breakdown of hospital cost components and charges was determined for all survivors during their initial hospitalization. Statistical significance was determined using the Bonferroni-Sidak method. RESULTS: Overall survival was 78% in infants born at 23–25 weeks’ gestational age. Survival increased and length of stay and hospital costs decreased with increased gestational age (p < 0.05 for all). Hospital charges were distributed as: NICU 56%, respiratory 11%, pharmacy 6%, laboratory 6%, radiology 6%, surgery 1%, neonatology 13% and miscellaneous 1%. CONCLUSION: Our study describes the hospital cost and distribution of charges for the periviable neonate during the initial hospitalization. These economic data may guide clinicians in quality improvement and cost management.
