Home Research Saving patient costs and improving patient outcomes through augmented reality simulation training

Saving patient costs and improving patient outcomes through augmented reality simulation training

Authors: D.L. Rawaf, E. Street, J. Van Flute
Conference: SGS conference

Published by:

AJOG
1 March 2024

Article type:

Abstracts

Keywords:
  • health economics
  • augmented reality
  • surgical simulation
  • laparoscopic training

Saving patient costs and improving patient outcomes through augmented reality simulation training

Authors: D.L. Rawaf, E. Street, J. Van Flute
Conference: SGS conference

Abstract

Objectives
To understand the impact of AR training on patient and surgical outcomes
Materials and Methods

Needham et al. estimated costs of a laparoscopic appendectomy in 2007. Using this data, we estimate the financial impact the technology may have through improvement in surgical outcomes. The costs were estimated using the PSSRU hospital and community health services (HCHS) index. Currently, median times for a laparoscopic completed procedure and a laparoscopic conversion are estimated to be 59 minutes and 101 minutes respectively. The median total hospital stay is 3 days, and 0.22% of patients will have bowel perforation. Currently, median theatre costs are £780 per patient, with ward costs at £776. Thus the total in-patient cost for a laparoscopic appendectomy is £1,903. Using this estimate, we are able to calculate the possible cost-savings per patient.

Results
The average cost in theatre is assumed to reduce from £780 to £702, and the cost of bowel perforations from £2,153 to £1,937. Thus total cost difference per patient is estimated at £79 at a 10% reduction in operative time. We have found up to 60% reductions in operative times. It should be noted that this cost difference assumes that all the benefit of the surgical technology will be realised in every procedure undertaken in theatre.

Conclusion
If we assume a 10% reduction in operative time, extraplated across 150 hospital trusts with a total of 10,000 surgeries a day (including the fixed costs of equipment), total cost savings in the first year will be £777, 579 realised after the 115th surgery. In subsequent years, the cost savings will be £786,574 per trust.

This process was peer-reviewed by the Inovus clinical excellence team and the British Medical Association (BMA).