[Approximation to cost analysis of various types of hemodialysis using relative value units]

Abstract

Hemodialysis sessions performed in Hospital Units have a different degree of complexity depending on the kind of patients who is receiving this treatment. This paper's aim is to apply certain weighting factors, which measure the complexity of each type of session performed, and so allow a more realistic comparison with hemodialysis sessions performed in dialysis Units. The various costs of the Castellón General Hospital Dialysis Unit were calculated. Five types of Hospital-performed sessions were defined, to which were applied concrete weighting factors called Relative Value Units (RVU). These took account of health professionals' time, disposable material and drug expenses. The cost of single hemodialysis session, before the RVU calculation was added, was 28,549 pesetas (171.58 Eu.). Thirty-two per cent of the cost was from disposable material, 29.38% for cost of health professionals time, 18.54% for structural costs, 13.4% for drug expenses, and 5.73% for the nephrologists' time. When RVU were applied, the Type I session cost (chronic renal failure patients on regular hemodialysis), was 28,882 pesetas (149.54 Eu.). As the complexity of the procedure increased, up to the Type V session (acute renal failure patients in intensive Care Units), the costs also rose to 68,448 pesetas (411.38 Eu.). We conclude that weighing the different types of hemodialysis sessions by means of RVU, allows a better measurement of the costs and achieves a more accurate comparison with others hemodialysis units.