Research Article

A Modeled Analysis of Telehealth Methods for Treating Pressure Ulcers after Spinal Cord Injury

Table 5

Cost estimates by scenario.


Total cost estimatesa
LowMediumHigh

Scenario  1: Preventive care
 Within SCI homecare catchment area
  Standard care$19,955$23,673$32,933
  Telehealth option 1b$18,465$21,349$28,669
 Outside SCI homecare catchment area
  Standard care$5,514$9,242$24,057
  Telehealth option 1b$18,465$21,349$28,669
  Telehealth option 2c$4,895$8,066$14,934

Scenario  2: Existing pressure ulcer
 Within SCI homecare catchment area
  Standard care$10,100$11,234$12,368
    (No telehealth in this situation)
 Outside SCI homecare catchment area
  Standard care$6,795$8,408$13,368
  Telehealth option 3d$4,901$6,325$11,083

Scenario  3: Postsurgical care
 Within SCI homecare catchment area
  Standard care $4,184$6,199$13,769
  Telehealth option 1b$7,897$9,331$14,093
  Telehealth option 3d$2,159$3,619$9,515
 Outside SCI homecare catchment area
  Standard care$2,828$4,719$12,154
  Telehealth option 1b$6,903$8,161$12,746
  Telehealth option 3d$2,159$3,619$9,515

SCI: Spinal cord injury.
aFigures are in 2007 dollars.
bTelehealth option 1 used an interactive videoconferencing machine that was installed in the patient’s home. cTelehealth option 2 used the same machine plus station-to-station (hub and spoke) teleconferencing. dTelehealth option 3 used low-cost equipment such as digital cameras and e-mail.