Oxygen Therapy Utilization in A Community Hospital: Use of A Protocol to Improve Oxygen Administration and Preserve Resources

Abstract

Background

Medically unnecessary oxygen administration is believed to cause waste and substantial unnecessary costs.

Methods

We studied oxygen use at a community hospital before and after implementation of an oxygen use protocol designed to minimize unnecessary oxygen use, and calculated the savings.

Results

In the month before implementation of the protocol: 68% of the total oxygen use was found to be unnecessary; the median amount of oxygen wasted per patient was 10,800 L, and patients who received unnecessary oxygen received it for an average of 5.17 days each. After institution of the oxygen use protocol, unnecessary oxygen use was substan-tially reduced. The median amount of oxygen wasted per patient was reduced to 2,880 L, and patients who received unnecessary oxygen received it for an average of 78 days each. Fewer patients received oxygen unnecessarily and the median cost of wasted oxygen was reduced from $3.63 per patient to $1.15 per patient.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the yearly savings from implementing an oxygen protocol at our institution amount to at least $7915, improved appropriate use of oxygen therapy, and reduced the costs of inpatient care.