Identifying Predictors of Higher Acute Care Costs For Patients With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury and Modelling Acute Care Pathway Redesign: A Record Linkage Study

Study Design. Record linkage study using healthcare utilization and costs data. Objective. To identify predictors of higher acute-care treatment costs and length of stay for patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). Summary of Background Data. There are few current or population-based estimates of acute hospitalization costs, length of stay, and other outcomes for people with TSCI, on which to base future planning for specialist SCI health care services. Methods. Record linkage study using healthcare utilization and costs data; all patients aged more than or equal to 16 years with incident TSCI in the Australian state of New South Wales (June 2013–June 2016). Generalized Linear Model regression to identify predictors of higher acute care treatment costs for patients with TSCI. Scenario analysis quantified the proportionate cost impacts of patient pathway modification. Results. Five hundred thirty-four incident cases of TSCI (74% male). Total cost of all acute index episodes approximately AUD$40.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.5) million; median cost per patient was AUD$45,473 (Interquartile Range: $15,535–$94,612). Patient pathways varied; acute care was less costly for patients admitted directly to a specialist spinal cord injury unit (SCIU) compared with indirect transfer within 24 hours. Over half (53%) of all patients experienced at least one complication during acute admission; their care was less costly if they had been admitted directly to SCIU. Scenario analysis demonstrated that a reduction of indirect transfers to SCIU by 10% yielded overall cost savings of AUD$3.1 million; an average per patient saving of AUD$5,861. Conclusion. Direct transfer to SCIU for patients with acute TSCI resulted in lower treatment costs, shorter length of stay, and less costly complications. Modeling showed that optimizing patient-care pathways can result in significant acute-care cost savings. Reducing potentially preventable complications would further reduce costs and improve longer-term patient outcomes. Key words: complications, costs, length of stay, record linkage, traumatic spinal cord injury.