The charges for seizures in the pediatric emergency room: a single center study

Elena Caron; Catherine E Wheless; Andrea B Patters; James W Wheless

doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2015.02.010

The charges for seizures in the pediatric emergency room: a single center study

Pediatr Neurol. 2015 May;52(5):517-20. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2015.02.010. Epub 2015 Feb 18.

Authors

Elena Caron¹, Catherine E Wheless¹, Andrea B Patters², James W Wheless³

Affiliations

¹ Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Comprehensive Epilepsy Program and Neuroscience Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee; Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.
² Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.
³ Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Comprehensive Epilepsy Program and Neuroscience Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee; Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee. Electronic address: jwheless@uthsc.edu.

PMID: 25882079
DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2015.02.010

Abstract

Background: The direct charges for emergency department visits resulting from recurrent seizures are significant, and home intervention with abortive medications can be cost-saving. Over a 1-year period, we evaluated children with seizures who were seen in the emergency department, stabilized, and released. The information is necessary to assess the pharmacoeconomic advantages of at-home interventions for seizure emergencies.

Methods: We did a retrospective chart review of 90 patients and divided them into febrile versus nonfebrile seizures and existing versus new-onset seizure disorder. The hospital accounting department performed a charge analysis.

Results and conclusion: The total charges for all 90 patients treated for seizures in the emergency department were $219,945. The minimum was $370, for a patient with no history of febrile seizures. The maximum was $17,126, for a patient with a nonfebrile seizure and a history of seizures. This information allows a comparison with the cost of preventive medications, such as diazepam rectal gel or intranasal midazolam.

Keywords: at-home interventions; charges; emergency room treatment; epileptic seizures.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Costs and Cost Analysis*
Emergency Service, Hospital / economics*
Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Male
Retrospective Studies
Seizures / economics*
Seizures / epidemiology
Seizures / therapy