Improving Value in Colorectal Cancer Care: An Economic Analysis of Enhanced Recovery Protocols at a Community Hospital

Background: Enhanced recovery protocols (ERPs) have been shown to improve the outcomes of gastrointestinal cancer care, leading reduced morbidity treatment and delays in systemic therapy. ERP implementation has also previously a reduction length stay (LOS) without changing readmission rate; however, economic cost associated with these measures not yet quantified. The aim this study was evaluate costs for colorectal at community hospital. Methods: Diagnostic Related Group (DRG) codes were used assess hospitalizations cases versus non-ERP groups. American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Survey from 1999 2015 provide expenses per day inpatient hospitalization United States. Postoperative LOS, average healthcare costs, postoperative complications between ERP-protocol protocol groups analyzed using analysis variance (ANOVA) independent t -tests. Results: AHA survey estimated that $2,265 incurred non-profit hospitals Florida $2,346 For all DRG codes, ERP-participating group shorter LOS health care costs. LOS-associated compared groups: 329, total savings $162,118.8 (n = 12 n 8 ERP, P 4.39 × 10 -18 ); 330, $314,552.64 36 24 2.72 -22 331, $89,302.73 11 23 4.19 -20 ). Conclusions: an significantly World J Oncol. 2023;14(5):401-405 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/wjon1580