J Perinatol. 2025 Jun 12. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02334-w. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Remote patient monitoring (RPM) facilitates early discharge of infants with inadequate oral feeding. We aim to determine the financial impact of discharge with RPM compared to continued hospitalization.
STUDY DESIGN: Patients discharged on RPM between May 2019 and June 2024 were eligible. Days of home nasogastric tube feeds and total physician time per episode were recorded. Direct cost estimates for each aspect of RPM and continued hospitalization were used to calculate cost savings of RPM use from a health care system perspective. One- and two-way sensitivity analyses were performed.
RESULTS: One hundred eighty infants were included. RPM decreased the hospital stay by 9.2 days/patient (mean). An RPM episode cost $1,768.24 (mean), while hypothetical continued hospitalization cost $13,978.32 (mean); a difference of $12,210.08. Sensitivity analyses showed that inpatient hospital cost variations were the primary driver of savings.
CONCLUSION: RPM programs for neonates with inadequate oral feeding can reduce direct medical costs.
CLINICAL TRIAL RESGISTRATION: None.
PMID:40506451 | DOI:10.1038/s41372-025-02334-w
