Benefits of Neurosurgical Teleconsults in the Management of Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Transfers and Transportation Cost Reduction

Abstract

Our study explores the efficacy and economic benefits of neurosurgical teleconsultations in managing intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), focusing on reducing unnecessary patient transfers and associated costs. We conducted a cost-savings analysis at our institution of a previously published pilot study involving a cohort of patients with ICH who were potential candidates for airlift to our tertiary care center but instead received neurosurgical consultation via teleconsultation to avoid the transfer. Data on patient demographics, distances, and costs were collected and analyzed to assess the economic impact of teleconsultations. The cohort comprised 14 patients; we noted significant cost savings from avoiding interhospital transfers, ranging from $84,346.52 to $120,495.03 per patient. Teleconsultations facilitated immediate, collaborative decision-making between healthcare providers at community hospitals and a tertiary care center, reducing the need for expensive air transportation and unnecessary hospital transfers. Neurosurgical teleconsultations offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional patient transfer methods for ICH management, providing substantial economic benefits while maintaining high physician and patient-family satisfaction levels. This study underscores the potential of our teleneurosurgery program to significantly reduce costs by reducing unnecessary financial burdens on patients' families and healthcare systems.