Contribution of Plastic Surgery to a Healthcare System: Our Economic Value to Hospital Profitability.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 2011 Sep 9;
Authors: Wang TY, Nelson JA, Corrigan D, Commack T, Serletti JM
Abstract
BACKGROUND:: With the fluctuating economic conditions and the healthcare reform in the United States, it is critical for plastic surgeons to be aware of our financial value to healthcare systems. We aim to evaluate surgeon productivity, economic contributions made to our hospital by the division of plastic surgery. METHODS:: Review of data was conducted of operative case logs for the departments of surgery, neurosurgery, and orthopedics for fiscal year 2009. Margins, revenue, surgeon total relative value units (RVUs), a measure of productivity, were analyzed. RESULTS:: Average RVU for all surgical specialties was 94,595 whereas, the plastic surgery division was 54,288. Average RVU per surgeon for the health system was 12,149. For plastic surgery average RVU/surgeon was 14,272 and the division was ranked 4 highest among all surgical services. The mean number of RVUs per case was 24.5 among all services, for plastic surgery, it was 31.2. Approximately one-third of all procedures performed by plastic surgery was in collaboration with another surgical specialty. The average net revenue for primary inpatient admissions per RVU was $381 for all surgical services while plastic surgery was $222/RVU. A total of $2.2 to $3.7million was the estimated savings for the hospital from complication salvage cases performed by the division. CONCLUSION:: Plastic surgery contributes significantly to hospital bottom line in performing joint cases and salvaging complications. In this current economic environment, it is crucial for plastic surgeons to be fully cognizant of our positive influence and economic impact to the hospital margin.
PMID: 21915078 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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