Interventional economics provide a roadmap to better patient care

Abstract

Costs of percutaneous coronary intervention including the index procedure and care in the subsequent 30 days are increased by half for patients who are readmitted, and increased up to two-fold for those who have major adverse events during the initial admission. Many factors "predicting" adverse events and readmission are not modifiable. However, some are modifiable. Interventionalists should focus on those. In addition to using strategies to avoid adverse events, interventionalists should lead teams to implement strategies to prevent readmission. This will require a new nonprocedural focus for interventionalists.