audit of cost on maintaining a critical care unit

ABSTRACT

Critical care is one of the most expensive services provided by a hospital. The aim of this audit was to analyze the different expenditures in a critical care unit and to calculate the average cost for a bed to be maintained a day. Data on cost in providing critical care during one month were calculated. It included cost of drugs, consumables, medical gases, investigations, staff wages, electricity, water, telephone and indirect expenses as administration, cleaning services, laundry and security. Most costs were direct, but some had to be estimated. Estimations were mainly investigations, oxygen and indirect expenses. The cost of maintaining the 7 bed critical care unit was Rs 51 49 998.20/month. Medical gases and staff wages were the highest costs. The cost of maintaining a bed/day was Rs 24 523.80. With clinical audit and financial data a patient costing system can be developed easily which will immensely help the health administrators