Association between surgeon scorecard and OR costs

Editor's Note

Providing surgeons with individualized cost feedback and surgical supply costs was associated with significantly reduced surgical supply costs, without negatively affecting patient outcomes in this study.

The study involved 63 surgeons in an intervention group and 186 surgeons in a control group. Surgeons in the intervention group received standardized monthly scorecards for 1 year showing their median surgical supply direct cost for each procedure type, compared with their baseline and the baseline of all surgeons at the institution.

Median surgical supply direct costs per case decreased 6.54% in the intervention group and increased 7.42% in the control group. The decrease represents a total savings of $836,147 in the intervention group.

After controlling for surgeon, department, patient demographics, and clinical indicators, there was a 9.95% surgical supply cost decrease in the intervention group. Patient outcomes were equivalent or improved after the intervention.

Question What is the association between providing surgeons with individualized cost feedback and surgical supply costs? Findings In this case-control study, surgeons in the intervention group received cost feedback scorecards during the study period, while those in the control group did not.