Significant projected savings with expansion of an emergency department observation protocol for mild acute pancreatitis

Pancreatology. 2024 Dec 18:S1424-3903(24)00837-8. doi: 10.1016/j.pan.2024.12.009. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) significantly contributes to healthcare costs, but not all patients require hospitalization. A novel, validated Emergency Department (ED) pathway for mild AP (MAP) at our tertiary care center reduced hospitalizations and resource utilization, without affecting outcomes.

Methods: A decision-analytic model was constructed using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist and methodologic recommendations by the Second Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine to predict healthcare costs based on whether an ED discharge protocol for MAP was utilized.

Results: Average savings for one MAP discharged from the ED were $1720.5 compared to the standard of care hospitalization. Assuming that 67.7 % of cases are mild and that there are 288,820 hospitalizations for AP annually, the ED discharge pathway would result in $98.6 million direct healthcare savings.

Conclusions: Implementation of an evidence-based, protocoled ED pathway for MAP could result in over $100 million in direct healthcare savings.

Keywords: Cost; Mild acute pancreatitis; Outcomes.