Purpose
Rising costs at the patient level have been recognized and shown to directly influence
patient decisions. By understanding patient interests in discussing cost, hand surgeons
may better prepare themselves and their practices to communicate costs with patients.
Methods
We surveyed 128 patients at an upper extremity surgery clinic at their 2-week postoperative
visit. Survey domains included basic patient demographics and an assessment of patient
financial distress, along with questions that rated patient interest with patient-physician
financial conversations. These factors included patients' desire for a conversation
regarding cost, whether or not patients have discussed cost with their surgeon, barriers
to these discussions, and overall views concerning cost containment in hand care.
Results
Seven percent of patients discussed the costs of their surgical care with their physician.
Eleven percent of patients reported that a doctor should not discuss the costs of
their surgical care. Forty-eight percent of patients reported that a doctor should
initiate a conversation regarding costs of care when a new treatment is being considered.
Fifty-nine percent of patients agreed that physicians should consider the amount of
money a patient will have to pay when choosing a new treatment.
Conclusions
Patients can experience financial hardship as a result of their surgery and some patients
are interested in discussing costs with their doctor. Patients indicated that doctors
should be concerned with lowering the costs of surgery and should initiate a conversation
regarding costs of care when a new treatment is being considered.
Clinical relevance
Patients are interested in a conversation regarding their cost of hand surgery care.
Making cost data more transparent and available to physicians and patients may facilitate communication
regarding cost of care.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 20, 2019
Accepted:
January 9,
2019
Received:
August 14,
2017
Footnotes
No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.
