Does introduction of a home oxygen service lead to healthcare cost savings?

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> Home oxygen therapy is prescribed for a variety of conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, heart failure, in conjunction with CPAP and NIV for sleep related disorders and cluster headaches. It is well recognised home oxygen therapy is often prescribed inappropriately and several studies have shown very few home oxygen therapy patients are followed-up sufficiently, and many patients not at all. The introduction of a home oxygen service (HOS) has the potential to make cost savings by following patients up after initiation of home oxygen to ensure appropriate prescription of equipment and removal of equipment if not clinically indicated. <b>Aim:</b> To investigate if introducing a HOS leads to cost savings. <b>Method:</b> Home oxygen data was collected and analysed over an 8-year time period (2012-2020). Data was collated each month on new accounts added, patients removed due to deaths and removals where home oxygen was not indicated clinically or removed due to safety reasons. The HOS commenced in April 2014. <b>Results:</b> The results indicate a significant reduction, by linear regression (R2= 0.97) in the number of adult home oxygen accounts since commencing the HOS in April 2014 (Figure 1). The annual cost of the Tower Hamlets HOS has been reduced by 48%, this is despite an 19% increase in charges made by the home oxygen provider. Cost savings of £412k have been made over 5 years (Figure 2). <b>Conclusions:</b> The introduction of a HOS has demonstrated significant cost savings over 5 years since commencing the service.