Health Economics
Hypoxia is a primary risk factor for non-healing wounds (Ercengiz and Mutluoglu 2023). Among the advanced therapeutic approaches for treating wounds, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) possesses a distinctive capability to alleviate tissue hypoxia, diminish pathological inflammation, and mitigate the effects of ischemia-reperfusion injury (Fife, Eckert, and Carter 2016). Yet challenges persist in patient qualification for HBOT, documentation of HBOT efficacy and effectiveness, and patient compliance. Consequently, suboptimal HBOT workflows may lead to financial burdens on the healthcare system. This study explores the financial implications of integrating Multispectral Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) into the HBOT workflow, aiming to evaluate its influence on health resource utilization (HRU) and financial outcomes compared to the conventional standard of care.
Methods:
The study utilized an FDA-cleared handheld mobile NIRS imaging device with thermal imaging capabilities*. NIRS and thermal data were collected during the initial patient qualification for HBOT, as well as pre- and post-treatment sessions. The assessment of financial implications involved a retrospective analysis, comparing data from the three months preceding the integration of NIRS imaging into the HBOT workflow to the three months following implementation.
Results:
The study assesses the economic benefits associated with the integration of NIRS Imaging into the HBOT workflow. Following implementation, NIRS imaging helped identify patients most likely to benefit from HBOT. Additionally, it was instrumental in assessing pre- and post-dive oxygenation, offering a chronological evaluation of the continuous progress observed throughout the treatment course.
Discussion:
NIRS imaging stands out as a valuable supplementary tool for HBOT workflow. It has the potential to optimize patient flow-through by improving patient qualification rates, as well as enhance patient compliance through visual demonstrations of treatment outcomes. Additionally, NIRS provides an objective measure for assessing responses post-therapy, aiding in justifying additional dives. The study's analysis of health resource utilization outcomes, qualification success rates, and financial metrics contributes to a comprehensive understanding of how optimizing the HBOT workflow impacts both healthcare practices and economics.