Cost-effectiveness evaluation of neonatal emergency transport organization in Italy
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the Italian Neonatal Emergency Transport Service (NETS), to analyse its current organisation and to identify potential financial benefits from improvements. Methods: Using data from the 2023 national NETS survey conducted by...
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Global Pediatrics |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667009725000016 |
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| author | Carlo Bellini Maurizio Gente Diego Minghetti Luca A. Ramenghi |
| author_facet | Carlo Bellini Maurizio Gente Diego Minghetti Luca A. Ramenghi |
| author_sort | Carlo Bellini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the Italian Neonatal Emergency Transport Service (NETS), to analyse its current organisation and to identify potential financial benefits from improvements. Methods: Using data from the 2023 national NETS survey conducted by the Italian Society of Neonatology, regional cost-effectiveness of operating the system were calculated. These were compared with ideal costs for on-call and dedicated NETS models, based on a previously established methodology. Results: The total cost of operating NETS in Italy was €32,785,650. Of this, €24,964,050 was associated with services organised according to the on-call model, while €7,821,600 was associated with dedicated services. The cost per transport varied considerably between regions. The national median cost for on-call services was €7,386 (ranging from €1,809 to €76,209), while the national median cost for dedicated services was €2,421 (ranging from €2,073 to €2,770). The actual total cost could be reduced to the ideal cost of €15,304,308, with the ideal cost per individual transport being €2,450 for on-call services and €2,250 for dedicated services (compared to the current medians of €7,386 and €2,421, respectively). Conclusions: The study concluded that the Italian NETS organisation is expensive and unsustainable due to limited financial resources, and requires a complete overhaul. The implementation of a more cost-effective 'hub-and-spoke' NETS network system could significantly improve financial sustainability. The findings suggest that improvements to the NETS organisation are needed not only in Italy, but potentially across Europe. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2b6a1cae610442b1b12eb43199c7108e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2667-0097 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Global Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-2b6a1cae610442b1b12eb43199c7108e2025-01-19T06:26:50ZengElsevierGlobal Pediatrics2667-00972025-03-0111100243Cost-effectiveness evaluation of neonatal emergency transport organization in ItalyCarlo Bellini0Maurizio Gente1Diego Minghetti2Luca A. Ramenghi3Neonatal Emergency Transport Service, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; Corresponding author at: Neonatal Emergency Transport Service, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department Mother & Child, IRCCS Gaslini, Largo G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genoa, Italy.Neonatal Emergency Transport Service, Lazio Regional Emergency 118 Department, Rome, ItalyNeonatal Emergency Transport Service, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, ItalyNeonatal Emergency Transport Service, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; University of Genoa, Genoa, ItalyObjective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the Italian Neonatal Emergency Transport Service (NETS), to analyse its current organisation and to identify potential financial benefits from improvements. Methods: Using data from the 2023 national NETS survey conducted by the Italian Society of Neonatology, regional cost-effectiveness of operating the system were calculated. These were compared with ideal costs for on-call and dedicated NETS models, based on a previously established methodology. Results: The total cost of operating NETS in Italy was €32,785,650. Of this, €24,964,050 was associated with services organised according to the on-call model, while €7,821,600 was associated with dedicated services. The cost per transport varied considerably between regions. The national median cost for on-call services was €7,386 (ranging from €1,809 to €76,209), while the national median cost for dedicated services was €2,421 (ranging from €2,073 to €2,770). The actual total cost could be reduced to the ideal cost of €15,304,308, with the ideal cost per individual transport being €2,450 for on-call services and €2,250 for dedicated services (compared to the current medians of €7,386 and €2,421, respectively). Conclusions: The study concluded that the Italian NETS organisation is expensive and unsustainable due to limited financial resources, and requires a complete overhaul. The implementation of a more cost-effective 'hub-and-spoke' NETS network system could significantly improve financial sustainability. The findings suggest that improvements to the NETS organisation are needed not only in Italy, but potentially across Europe.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667009725000016CostNeonatal transportNewbornOrganization |
| spellingShingle | Carlo Bellini Maurizio Gente Diego Minghetti Luca A. Ramenghi Cost-effectiveness evaluation of neonatal emergency transport organization in Italy Global Pediatrics Cost Neonatal transport Newborn Organization |
| title | Cost-effectiveness evaluation of neonatal emergency transport organization in Italy |
| title_full | Cost-effectiveness evaluation of neonatal emergency transport organization in Italy |
| title_fullStr | Cost-effectiveness evaluation of neonatal emergency transport organization in Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cost-effectiveness evaluation of neonatal emergency transport organization in Italy |
| title_short | Cost-effectiveness evaluation of neonatal emergency transport organization in Italy |
| title_sort | cost effectiveness evaluation of neonatal emergency transport organization in italy |
| topic | Cost Neonatal transport Newborn Organization |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667009725000016 |
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