Cost of ownership assessment for a da Vinci robot based on US real‐world data

• DOI: 10.1002/rcs.2023
• Publication Date: 2019-06-19T11:04:57Z
• Authors: Josh Feldstein; Bjoern Schwander; Mark Roberts; Herbert Coussons
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Robotic Surgical Procedures; Ownership; Costs and Cost Analysis; Humans; Robotics; 3. Good health

AbstractBackgroundDespite growth of robotic surgery, published literature lacks assessment of the cost of ownership (CoO) of a da Vinci robot by surgical service line and the associated benefit such data provides.MethodsBased on real‐world data (RWD) from 14 US hospitals and ≈6000 da Vinci robotic cases, CoO was assessed using all relevant fixed and variable cost components, calculated by surgical service line.ResultsAt a representative hospital with an efficient robotic program (n = 424 cases), the weighted average fixed cost per case was $984. Weighted average variable cost per case was $8025 (range: $3325 for Cholecystectomy—multiport, to $16 986 for Rectal Resection). Assessing weighted average by case, main variable cost drivers were non‐da Vinci supplies (49.5%), staff costs (28.6%), and da Vinci supplies (21.9%).ConclusionsCase mix, annual robotic case volumes, and cut‐to‐close/patient‐in‐room time by surgical service line represent core variables influencing robotic program CoO, which help drive profitable program management.