Expected Organizational Costs for Inserting Prevalence Information Into Lumbar Spine Imaging Reports
Recommended Citation
Bresnahan BW, Jarvik JG, Meier EN, James KT, Gold LS, Rundell SD, Turner JA, Suri P, Luetmer PH, Friedly JL, Sherman KJ, Heagerty PJ, Kallmes DF, Avins AL, Griffith BD, and Kessler LG. Expected Organizational Costs for Inserting Prevalence Information Into Lumbar Spine Imaging Reports. J Am Coll Radiol 2021; 18(10):1415-1422.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2021
Publication Title
J Am Coll Radiol
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Modifying physician behavior to more closely align with guideline-based care can be challenging. Few effective strategies resulting in appropriate spine-related health care have been reported. The Lumbar Imaging With Reporting of Epidemiology (LIRE) intervention did not result in reductions in spine care but did in opioid prescriptions written.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate organizational resource needs and costs associated with implementing a pragmatic, decision support-type intervention that inserted age- and modality-matched prevalence information for common lumbar spine imaging findings, using site-based resource use data from the LIRE trial.
RESEARCH DESIGN: Time and cost estimation associated with implementing the LIRE intervention in a health organization.
SUBJECTS: Providers and patients assessed in the LIRE trial.
MEASURES: Expected personnel costs required to implement the LIRE intervention.
RESULTS: Annual salaries were converted to daily average per person costs, ranging from $400 to $2,200 per day (base case) for personnel (range: $300-$2,600). Estimated total average cost for implementing LIRE was $5,009 (range: $2,651-$12,020), including conducting pilot testing with providers. Costs associated with a small amount of time for a radiologist (6-12 hours) and imaging-ordering providers (1-8 hours each) account for approximately 75% of the estimated total cost.
CONCLUSIONS: The process of implementing an intervention for lumbar spine imaging reports containing age- and modality-appropriate epidemiological benchmarks for common imaging findings required radiologists, imaging-ordering providers, information technology specialists, and limited testing and monitoring. The LIRE intervention seems to be a relatively low-cost, evidence-based, complementary tool that can be easily integrated into the reporting of spine imaging.
Medical Subject Headings
Analgesics, Opioid; Costs and Cost Analysis; Humans; Lumbar Vertebrae; Lumbosacral Region; Prevalence
PubMed ID
34216559
Volume
18
Issue
10
First Page
1415
Last Page
1422
