ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: High costs associated with after-hour electroencephalography (EEG) constitute a barrier for financially constrained hospitals to provide this neurodiagnostic procedure outside regular working hours. Our study aims to deepen our understanding of the cost elements involved in delivering EEG services during after-hours. Methods: We accessed publicly available data sets and created a cost model depending on 3 most commonly seen staffing scenarios: (1) technologist on-site, (2) technologist on-call from home, and (3) a hybrid of the two. Results: Cost of EEG depends on the volume of testing and the staffing plan. Within the various cost elements, labor cost of EEG technologists is the predominant expenditure, which varies across geographic regions and urban areas. Discussion: We provide a model to explain why access to EEGs during after-hours has a substantial expense. This model provides a cost calculator tool (made available as part of this publication in eAppendix 1, links.lww.com/CPJ/A513) to estimate the cost of EEG platform based on site-specific staffing scenarios and annual volume.
ABSTRACT
Several companies are developing an EEG recording system that uses dry, wireless electrodes, and one has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for medical use. Today, the quality of EEG signals recorded by these dry systems may not always match those of conventionally applied electrodes, but the gap is closing fast. As dry, wireless EEG systems find their way into hospitals and clinics over the next few years, the job of the EEG technologist will change. Dry systems can be placed on like a cap and, after a few minutes of adjustment, begin broadcasting EEG. No longer will it be as necessary to spend time meticulously measuring, cleaning, affixing, and adjusting electrodes on the scalp. This upcoming time of rapid change can be an opportunity to redefine the role of the EEG technologist.
