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April 25, 2024
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GAO: Safety Devices Pay for Themselves
The US General Accounting Office says healthcare facilities will save money by complying with the new Needlestick Safety Act because they'll avoid the high cost of treating healthcare workers for needlestick injuries.
In a special report, the GAO estimates that use of safety devices mandated by the Needlestick Act are expected to cost hospitals $70 to $352 million a year. Yet, under certain assumptions, the same facilities could recoup those added expenses plus anywhere from $9 million to $90 million in costs for testing injured workers and treating employees who contract hepatitis or HIV.
The GAO based its estimates on data about needlestick injuries reported by hospitals to the Centers for Disease Control. Some 384,000 percutaneous injuries occur annually, with 236,000 resulting from use of hollow-bore needles. The report notes that this likely reflects less than half of the total injuries, because six of 10 health-care workers are employed in non-hospital settings.
Of those reported injuries, GAO estimates that 69,000 needlesticks could be avoided annuallywith the use of safety devices. Looking at CDC data, GAO says reducing needlesticks by this amount could prevent 25 cases of Hepatitis B and 16 cases of Hepatitis C. The number of HIV cases prevented could not be estimated.
According to the CDC, half of needlesticks occur after the device has been used, but before its disposal, and 20 percent of injuries are associated with disposal. More than 25 percent of needlesticks occur during the use of a needle in a patient, and are associated with sudden patient movement. Safety devices can't prevent these injuries, GAO says.
For the cost analysis, GAO estimated that safety features cost anywhere from $.07 to $.15 extra for a syringe/needle combination to $.70 extra for an IV catheter.
As for its estimates of the cost of testing healthcare workers for exposure to bloodborne pathogens, and treating them for needlestick-related illness, the report assumed post-exposure treatment costs of $500, $1,500 or $2,500. Using those numbers, eliminating 69,000 needlesticks would cut costs by $37 million to $173 million/year.
The GAO admits that if a facility chooses very costly safety devices, reducing the cost of post-exposure treatment won't offset safety-device costs.
The agency also stresses that a simple cost analysis doesn't reflect the true and total cost of needlestick injuries: "The scope of this analysis?omits the effects of several relevant factors. For instance, we did not factor in?reductions in health care workers' risk to life and health, reductions in time lost from work, and the emotional distress suffered by injured and infected workers."
The US General Accounting Office says healthcare facilities will save money by complying with the new Needlestick Safety Act because they'll avoid the high cost of treating healthcare workers for needlestick injuries.
In a special report, the GAO estimates that use of safety devices mandated by the Needlestick Act are expected to cost hospitals $70 to $352 million a year. Yet, under certain assumptions, the same facilities could recoup those added expenses plus anywhere from $9 million to $90 million in costs for testing injured workers and treating employees who contract hepatitis or HIV.
The GAO based its estimates on data about needlestick injuries reported by hospitals to the Centers for Disease Control. Some 384,000 percutaneous injuries occur annually, with 236,000 resulting from use of hollow-bore needles. The report notes that this likely reflects less than half of the total injuries, because six of 10 health-care workers are employed in non-hospital settings.Of those reported injuries, GAO estimates that 69,000 needlesticks could be avoided annuallywith the use of safety devices. Looking at CDC data, GAO says reducing needlesticks by this amount could prevent 25 cases of Hepatitis B and 16 cases of Hepatitis C. The number of HIV cases prevented could not be estimated.
According to the CDC, half of needlesticks occur after the device has been used, but before its disposal, and 20 percent of injuries are associated with disposal. More than 25 percent of needlesticks occur during the use of a needle in a patient, and are associated with sudden patient movement. Safety devices can't prevent these injuries, GAO says.
For the cost analysis, GAO estimated that safety features cost anywhere from $.07 to $.15 extra for a syringe/needle combination to $.70 extra for an IV catheter.
As for its estimates of the cost of testing healthcare workers for exposure to bloodborne pathogens, and treating them for needlestick-related illness, the report assumed post-exposure treatment costs of $500, $1,500 or $2,500. Using those numbers, eliminating 69,000 needlesticks would cut costs by $37 million to $173 million/year.
The GAO admits that if a facility chooses very costly safety devices, reducing the cost of post-exposure treatment won't offset safety-device costs.
The agency also stresses that a simple cost analysis doesn't reflect the true and total cost of needlestick injuries: "The scope of this analysis?omits the effects of several relevant factors. For instance, we did not factor in?reductions in health care workers' risk to life and health, reductions in time lost from work, and the emotional distress suffered by injured and infected workers."
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