International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology
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Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. · Nov 2003
Outpatient treatment suite: a safe and cost-effective venue to perform myringotomy and tubes placement in children.
Otitis media (OM) is the most common reason that a child undergoes a general anesthetic, with the total costs of treating this disease exceeding five billion dollars annually. Concerns regarding the development of antibiotic-resistant organisms in response to medical treatment for OM have fueled the demand for surgical intervention. However, reimbursements are decreasing. Non-traditional settings for children requiring bilateral myringotomy and tube (BMT) placement for ear disease have the potential to offer the same degree of patient safety and improved efficiency but at lower cost. ⋯ Operating rooms (ORs) today are busier than in years past, but revenues barely meet or in some cases fall below expenses due to insurers' decreased reimbursement. This innovative approach to BMT placement has been shown to be safe and results in excellent family satisfaction, with a substantial contribution to margin. As over one million BMT cases are performed annually in the US, adoption of this approach nationally has the potential to markedly reduce the treatment costs of this common disease.