PCT Ltd (PCTL)

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Disinfection Robots: A front-line assault on hospital-acquired infections?

COSTS AND REIMBURSEMENT
While disinfecting robot technology is
costly, there’s a direct correlation to
reducing infection risk for inpatients,
costs for treating HAIs, and patients’
length of stay. According to ECRI
Institute’s SELECTplus pricing database,
Bioquell’s Q-10 HPV system has an
average price of approximately $47,000,
the Xenex UV-C system costs
approximately $81,000, and the TRU-D
UV-C system costs $125,000 Service
contract costs should also be considered
as part of any lifecycle cost analysis.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) assesses
hospitals’ readmission payment
adjustments using three readmission
measures endorsed by the National
Quality Forum: heart attack, heart failure,
and pneumonia. CMS is finalizing its
proposal to add two new readmission
measures, which will be used to calculate
readmission penalties beginning in fiscal
year 2015: readmissions for hip/knee
arthroplasty and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. Disincentives, such as
lower reimbursement payments, are
expected to continue, and any higher costs
incurred due to HAIs may not be
reimbursed at all.
Introducing these technologies could
have large positive implications for
infection prevention practices and capital
and operational budgets. In addition,
administrators could see a return on
investment due to fewer staff-contracted
infections and loss of work time.
Implementing disinfection robotics might
not only improve patient health outcomes,
but also bring about significant savings and
cost avoidance for healthcare systems