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Integration of EEG lead placement templates into traditional technologist-based staffing models reduces costs in continuous video-EEG monitoring service.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kolls, BJ; Lai, AH; Srinivas, AA; Reid, RR
Published in: J Clin Neurophysiol
June 2014

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the relative cost reductions within different staffing models for continuous video-electroencephalography (cvEEG) service by introducing a template system for 10/20 lead application. METHODS: We compared six staffing models using decision tree modeling based on historical service line utilization data from the cvEEG service at our center. Templates were integrated into technologist-based service lines in six different ways. The six models studied were templates for all studies, templates for intensive care unit (ICU) studies, templates for on-call studies, templates for studies of ≤ 24-hour duration, technologists for on-call studies, and technologists for all studies. RESULTS: Cost was linearly related to the study volume for all models with the "templates for all" model incurring the lowest cost. The "technologists for all" model carried the greatest cost. Direct cost comparison shows that any introduction of templates results in cost savings, with the templates being used for patients located in the ICU being the second most cost efficient and the most practical of the combined models to implement. Cost difference between the highest and lowest cost models under the base case produced an annual estimated savings of $267,574. Implementation of the ICU template model at our institution under base case conditions would result in a $205,230 savings over our current "technologist for all" model. CONCLUSIONS: Any implementation of templates into a technologist-based cvEEG service line results in cost savings, with the most significant annual savings coming from using the templates for all studies, but the most practical implementation approach with the second highest cost reduction being the template used in the ICU. The lowered costs determined in this work suggest that a template-based cvEEG service could be supported at smaller centers with significantly reduced costs and could allow for broader use of cvEEG patient monitoring.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Clin Neurophysiol

DOI

EISSN

1537-1603

Publication Date

June 2014

Volume

31

Issue

3

Start / End Page

187 / 193

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Video Recording
  • Personnel Staffing and Scheduling
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Models, Economic
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Humans
  • Electroencephalography
  • Decision Trees
  • Cost Savings
  • Adult
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Kolls, B. J., Lai, A. H., Srinivas, A. A., & Reid, R. R. (2014). Integration of EEG lead placement templates into traditional technologist-based staffing models reduces costs in continuous video-EEG monitoring service. J Clin Neurophysiol, 31(3), 187–193. https://doi.org/10.1097/WNP.0000000000000053
Kolls, Brad J., Amy H. Lai, Anang A. Srinivas, and Robert R. Reid. “Integration of EEG lead placement templates into traditional technologist-based staffing models reduces costs in continuous video-EEG monitoring service.J Clin Neurophysiol 31, no. 3 (June 2014): 187–93. https://doi.org/10.1097/WNP.0000000000000053.
Kolls, Brad J., et al. “Integration of EEG lead placement templates into traditional technologist-based staffing models reduces costs in continuous video-EEG monitoring service.J Clin Neurophysiol, vol. 31, no. 3, June 2014, pp. 187–93. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/WNP.0000000000000053.

Published In

J Clin Neurophysiol

DOI

EISSN

1537-1603

Publication Date

June 2014

Volume

31

Issue

3

Start / End Page

187 / 193

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Video Recording
  • Personnel Staffing and Scheduling
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Models, Economic
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Humans
  • Electroencephalography
  • Decision Trees
  • Cost Savings
  • Adult