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- Title
Cost comparison and program growth characteristics of an established interdisciplinary pediatric cardiology outreach program in British Columbia.
- Authors
Cindrich, Kiley; Potts, Jim; Cockett, Stella; Human, Derek G.
- Abstract
BACKGROUND: Each year there are approximately 350-500 children in British Columbia who are diagnosed with congenital heart disease. Traditionally, these children and their families have travelled to the provincial tertiary care centre, British Columbia Children's Hospital (BCCH) in Vancouver, BC, to receive non-acute specialized medical care. Travelling adds a high financial and emotional cost to families. Thus, the Division of Cardiology at BCCH implemented interdisciplinary outreach clinics with partnered BC communities with no nearby pediatric cardiology service. We evaluated the cost and growth of this Pediatric Cardiology Partnership Program (PCPP). METHODS: A retrospective chart review was completed. Historical data from the initial year of the PCPP were examined and internal patient databases, budget records, and staff communications were reviewed. Data was collected on any patient who was followed by the PCPP from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2010. RESULTS: The PCPP has grown from 45 clinic days and 620 patient appointments in the 2005-6 fiscal year to 55 clinic days and 728 patient visits in the 2009-10 fiscal year. Patients travel between 17-216km round trip to attend a PCCP clinic which is less than the 164-3906km to attend a clinic at BCCH. After their PCPP appointment, 81% of patients are not referred for appointments in the Vancouver area and thus do not need to travel to tertiary care centres for future visits. The cost of the program per patient is less than the cost of the patient's family travelling to Vancouver. INTERPRETATION: The interdisciplinary PCPP through BCCH has been successful in caring for non-acute patients in rural BC health care settings and preventing their need to travel to tertiary care centres.
- Subjects
BRITISH Columbia; PEDIATRIC cardiology; OUTREACH programs; HEALTH care teams; CONGENITAL heart disease
- Publication
UBC Medical Journal, 2011, Vol 2, Issue 2, p23
- ISSN
1920-7425
- Publication type
Abstract