U.S. hospitals' preparedness and response to the 2014–2015 Ebola virus epidemic cost approximately $361 million, according to a study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
Researchers sent a survey to 750 U.S. general medical/surgical hospitals selected from the American Hospital Association's list of hospitals. Additionally, they sent the survey to 60 general children's hospitals around the country. Via the survey, the researchers assessed Ebola preparation supply costs and overtime staff hours. They used the average national wage to calculate overtime labor costs.
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Here are five insights:
1. On average, hospitals spent $80,461 on combined supply and overtime labor costs.
2. Multivariate analysis showed that small hospitals spent more on staff overtime costs per 100 beds than large hospitals.
3. The overall cost for acute care hospitals in the United States to prepare for possible Ebola cases was estimated to be $361 million.
4. Obtaining supplies from vendors proved to be the most pressing challenge for hospitals, due to shortages.
5. The greatest benefit from Ebola preparedness was improved knowledge about personal protective equipment.
"Planning for emerging infectious disease identification, triage and management should be conducted at regional and national levels in the United States to facilitate efficient and appropriate allocation of resources in acute care facilities," the study authors concluded.