The Economic Cost of Nursing Care of Palliative Patients in the Emergency Department

TL;DR

This study calculates the economic cost of nursing care for palliative patients in emergency departments and highlights the potential for better resource management.

Contribution

The study provides the first known economic analysis of nursing care for palliative patients in avoidable hospital admissions.

Findings

Palliative patients in preventable admissions spent about 24 hours in the emergency department.

The median nursing care cost per admission was EUR 180.98.

Most patients were elderly and had respiratory symptoms.

Abstract

(1) Background: The economic cost of nursing care to palliative patients in avoidable hospital admission is unknown. (2) Methods: An observational, retrospective, and analytical study was used encompassing the economic cost of nursing care in a general hospital emergency department that uses descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. (3) Results: We have a sample of 273 palliative patients in preventable hospital admissions (76.3%, CI 95%: 71.7–80.8), deceased, in 2019. With a median of 84 years, about 80% were admitted home after 5 h of complaints, mainly due to respiratory symptoms. Patients remained for approximately 24 h in the emergency department, totaling a median of EUR 180.98 in nursing care costs per admission. (4) Conclusions: It was evident that with the knowledge obtained about palliative economic nursing costs, we could increase results, manage resources, and consolidate PC integration in health systems, as this study proved. This study was not registered.