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Abstract Aims To study the cost-benefit analysis of a digital post-operative integrated care plan app for surgical patients. Methods 1. Preliminary data from patient survey - we designed a questionnaire to assess patients’ views of the Post Op app. 2. Estimates for NHS services cost - derived from the King’s Fund latest report (2023) and the NHS Digital National schedule of reference costs (2017, 2021-22). 3.Estimates for travel-associated costs - We assumed a total cost per mile of 16p, and also assumed the patients would need to pay an average cost of £1.6/h for hospital parking for an average of 3h per visit. We assumed a carbon emission of 221.4 grams per mile (Department for Transport data). 4.Modelling approach - We used a conservative modelling approach simulating different patient groups with varying levels of postoperative anxiety/complications. Results Taking into account avoidable presentations to ED, costs borne by the patients, lost productivity, environmental costs, avoidable re-operations and the costs related to antibiotic tolerance/resistance, the lower boundary of total savings from a digital post-operative follow-up tool equates to £58,739 per 100 patients and the upper boundary is £79,949 per 100 patients. Conclusion Post Op application provides excellent support for most patients in the immediate postoperative period and is likely to result in a significant reduction in the number of contacts patients make with the GP or hospital, and with the Emergency Department resulting in significant cost saving for both the service and the patients. Furthermore, earlier recognition, monitoring and appropriate treatment of SSIs provides further savings whose magnitude is likely underestimated.
Chacko et al. (Sun,) studied this question.