Resource management in cardiovascular engineering: is outsourcing the solution?

Perfusion. 2005 Sep;20(5):289-94. doi: 10.1191/0267659105pf822oa.

Abstract

In recent years, modern medicine has changed considerably. At maximum care centers, in particular, the use of state-of-the-art medical equipment has become an essential part of patient care. HoWever, using such high-tech products also means a considerable burden on the financial resources available, because additional financing is rare. Consequently, there is a need for approaches that allow the use of state-of-the-art equipment without straining the budget unduly. The question now is whether economic strategies that have long since been established in other industries, e.g., the outsourcing of certain services, represent a potential solution for the economic problems of modern clinics. The fundamentals of outsourcing and its pros and cons are outlined and discussed, taking cardiovascular perfusion as an example, a cost-intensive field of heart surgery that is responsible for attending to heart-lung machines, artificial hearts and circulatory support systems.

MeSH terms

  • Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / economics*
  • Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / instrumentation
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Health Resources / economics*
  • Health Resources / supply & distribution
  • Humans
  • Models, Economic
  • Outsourced Services / economics*
  • Reperfusion / economics
  • Reperfusion / instrumentation
  • Surgical Equipment / economics