Diagnostic device cost saving calculator available

The NHS could save millions of pounds each year⁽¹⁾ and significantly reduce the number of COPD⁽²⁾ patients admitted for emergency treatment, if the correct investments were made in diagnostic devices at a primary care level. And now, a new online cost saving calculator makes the financial case for purchasing portable equipment for testing blood gases in the community much clearer.

The simple tool, developed by Axis-Shield UK, will be useful to any healthcare trust looking to develop monitoring of COPD patients at a primary care level.  Axis-Shield UK’s e-calculator asks healthcare practitioners a series of questions relating to their COPD patients, including the typical number of unscheduled, emergency admissions they see each month. It then gives a tailored illustration of the potential savings that could be achieved by performing blood gas tests in the community, or in the comfort of a patient’s home, rather than in a traditional hospital setting. 

Each time a COPD patient is admitted as an emergency case to hospital, the associated financial impact is £2,337⁽³⁾. In 2003/4, total costs for COPD emergency admissions reached £253 million, making COPD a very costly illness for the NHS. In contrast, the consumable cost of performing a blood gas test on a portable device, which could help keep a patient at home, is minimal. A test for blood gases on the i-STAT from Axis-Shield UK for example, typically costs £5.00 with the average return on purchase investment seen in less than six months.

Sue Younghusband, marketing director for Axis Shield UK said: “With the unveiling of the National Services Framework for COPD set to take place in 2009, the demand for portable diagnostic devices is likely to increase to help prevent costly emergency admissions. Currently more than 30 PCTs are already using our i-STAT device in the community to great effect, and half of all the i-STATs we sold in 2008 were to existing customers, showing the very real benefits they bring.”

Continuing she said: “Our simple cost saving calculator can give a snapshot of a PCTs current costs for unscheduled COPD admissions. It then breaks down the net savings that could be made after three, six and 12 months. The results can be surprising and the numbers allow managers within the trusts to arm themselves with the figures they need to convince senior key decision makers to invest in diagnostic devices.”

The i-STAT^®, a revolutionary handheld analyser, provides lab-accurate test results in minutes for a range of biochemistries including blood gases. It enables respiratory nurses to monitor the status of COPD patients while they are with them and make informed decisions at the point of care on correct dosing, alterations to medication or the need for a patient to be hospitalised.

Axis-Shield UK’s cost saving calculator is available to view and use at the following weblink:

COPD Cost Saving Calculator

For more information about i-STAT or Axis-Shield UK, please contact Natalie Yates / Rachel Griffiths at the Axis-Shield UK press office on: 01223 884600 or by email at firstname.lastname.war.uk.com.

About Axis-Shield UK

Axis-Shield UK is part of the Axis-Shield Group which develops, manufactures and distributes high quality, in-vitro diagnostic testing technologies that help improve healthcare and patient management. The company has a range of proprietary technologies and runs an active programme of development for new products that can be utilised across clinical laboratories, in hospitals or by Primary Care Trusts (PCT). The organisation manufactures key devices including Afinion^™ and Thrombotrack^™ and works with medical company Abbott to distribute i-STAT^® - a unique handheld analyser.

At the point-of-care (in hospitals or in the community), Axis-Shield’s novel, branded products can be used for the early, rapid and differential diagnosis and treatment of patients while they are present – ultimately speeding treatment times and helping to improve lives.

In the laboratory sector, Axis-Shield specialises in proprietary markers for the diagnosis and management of critical illnesses such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and rheumatoid arthritis.

Footnote:

⁽¹⁾ Axis-Shield UK estimates that the NHS could save as much £8 million a year if the correct investments were made in diagnostic devices and just two emergency admissions of COPD patients were prevented. Numbers achieved were calculated as follows:

- 24 emergency admissions at a cost of £2,337 (national tariff) each = £56,088

- £56,088 for each of the 152 PCTs in the UK = £8,525,376

⁽²⁾ Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

⁽³⁾ Reference for National Tariff: COPD emergency admission = £2,337 

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_081096