Cost analysis of heart transplantation from the day of operation to the day of discharge.

Hospital costs from the day of transplantation to the day of discharge were examined in a consecutive series of 53 patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation between October 1982 and February 1987. An accounting cost methodology was used to convert billable charges, to costs for 29 separate hospital cost centers. Total cost per case has shown a statistically significant decrease of over $30,000 with no indication of a change in patient selection or a decrease in 3-month survival. Most of the cost reductions occurred in five cost centers: operating room, blood and intravenous therapy, medical supplies, heart station, and routine services, as evidenced by decreases in wages and supplies. The results support the premise that new technologies can become more cost-efficient over time and suggest that as the medical team becomes more proficient and experienced, cost reductions can become a reality.