Pediatric Spine Arthrodesis Care Line: reducing SUS ICU daily costs

Abstract

Objective: to assess the minimization of costs associated with Intensive Care Unit (ICU) length of stay, after implementing a Spinal Arthrodesis Care Pathway (CP). Method: Cost-minimization analysis of administrative CP data from a public pediatric hospital. Two periods of analysis were considered: pre (2019) and post-complete implementation of the CP (2022). The study considered SUS as payer. The ICU daily cost considered SIGTAP table. A budget impact analysis was conducted considering a 5-year time horizon to estimate a savings associated with more patients receiving CP over the years. Results: 64 patients were followed by PC in 2019 (ICU average time; 3.8 days) and 62 patients (ICU average time: 0.8 days) in 2022, suggesting a 3-day ICU stay reduction, and resulting in a minimization of costs of R$ 130.2k. In addition, shorter total hospital stay was identifed with 2022 CP. Conclusion: The implementation of the Spine Arthrodesis Care Pathway was a strategy considered effective as it provided higher rates of hospital discharge to patients and reduced ICU stay. The new CP optimized ICU-beds, providing an efficient allocation of resources in a hospital from SUS.