Abstract
Objective: To report the burden of care and financial cost of a new Eating Disorders service within a paediatric teaching hospital.
Method: A 39-month period before and after the inception of a child and adolescent Eating Disorders service was studied. Medical records were analysed to compare the burden of care, including number of admissions and bed-days, during the comparison period. The financial implications of the new service were also investigated.
Results: The number of individuals referred, assessed and offered treatment was significantly greater following the inception of the ED Team. The number of admissions and total bed-days utilised significantly increased. The burden of care was shifted to the medical ward. The overall service cost increased by 108% from baseline. However, the cost per-admission and per-inpatient decreased by 40% and 48% respectively.
Conclusions: There are compelling psychological and medical arguments why children and adolescents with Eating Disorders warrant a coordinated team approach. The inception of such a team is likely to create significant financial economies. However, the overall hospital burden of care will significantly rise.
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