IR treatments shown to be more cost-effective than conventional surgical alternatives
IR treatment Liver cancer Lung cancer Uterine fibroids Central venous access Vertebral fractures Radiofrequency ablation Thermal ablation Uterine artery embolization Chest port insertion by IR
Percutaneous vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty
Surgical treatment Hepatic resection9 Sublobar resection10 Hysterectomy11 Chest port insertion in OR12 Open surgery13
high-quality outcomes aligns with risk-based payment models, making IR treatments well positioned for the shift to value-based care.
1 Lower costs Treatments often result in fewer
interventions and complications, resulting in more cost-effective treatments. Five-year costs associated with dialysis access patency are 57% less with IRs as compared to other specialties.6
2 Reduce length of stay IR treatments have flexibility
to be done on the weekend, reducing length of stay for many patients. Routine weekend IR treatments allow 24% of patients to be discharged earlier than anticipated and 174 hospital days to be gained.7
3 Reduce waste IRs can help reduce waste by
avoiding repeat procedures, reducing ICU use and optimizing hospital resources. Medicare analysis shows lower extremity endovascular interventions done by IRs save $1,372 per procedure as compared to other specialties.8
Delivering quality care $2,000 per patient-day opportunity IR treatments are safe for patients and result in fewer complications
IRs and COVID-19
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals were overwhelmed with patients fighting for their lives. Hospital leaders struggled to ensure they had enough personal protective equipment to keep their staff safe.
IRs were there to step in and help hospitals preserve their resources and alleviate the stress on ICUs and ORs. For example, IRs performed thrombectomies to keep patients out of the ICU and to quickly free up hospital beds. IRs also performed locoregional therapies for cancer patients, avoiding surgical procedures that hospitals could not prioritize. IRs also quickly stood up COVID ICU vascular access teams to rapidly place central lines for urgent dialysis.
Through collaboration with their colleagues, IRs demonstrated the value of their partnership to hospitals and providers.
Additionally, avoiding readmissions can reduce potential penalties, and leads to better outcomes for patients as well as management of hospital wide capacity. This also allows for more highly reimbursed primary admissions in the long run.
The innovative nature of IR: 1. IRs can target virtually every part of the body
2. IRs collaborate with multiple specialties, including oncology, radiology and gynecology
3. IRs attract thoughtful and savvy patients who are looking for novel, innovative treatment options
4. IRs use the latest technology to continually advance treatment options for patients
5. IR is an essential component to many revenue generating service lines offered by hospitals, such as organ transplant, oncology, stroke care and trauma
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