What did that episode of care cost?

When it comes to estimating what a given episode of care costs, practitioners are clueless. In fact, 2/3 flunked the test.

Maybe a clinical costometer would help provide the troops with some idea of how much is on the meter:

1. A clinical app or program that tells docs how much the typical cost of an episode of care costs e.g. what was the average bill for a patient in the ER with a sore throat or back pain (OK, I know what you are thinking about charges v costs, but we have to start somewhere)
2. The meter starts with the cost of the visit and then adds on from there
3. Every order would have an accompanying charge built into it
4. The patient co-pay and deductible are added
5. A meter in the exam room would show a running total of charges to date, just like the meter on the cab, or the price cited on your Uber app
6. A decision support system would alert the practitioner that they are ordering something that is not supported by evidence based literature or appropriate use criteria. Did your taxi driver take the long way?
7. We are working under the assumption that knowing what something costs would eliminate or reduce the number of unnecessary or wasteful tests or interventions. It many instances, research says yes.
8. We tie compensation to waste reduction via some kind of cost savings sharing arrangement
9. The patient should get a receipt or have it sent by email, just like Uber
10. All of this, of course, depends on the facility and doctor knowing what something costs in order to submit the charge in real time. Maybe bundled payment for a given episode of ER care is a better way to run the railroad.

Building cost clinometers sounds like a business opportunity. Just don't hire those Uber guys to figure out how much you should be paid.

Arlen Meyers, MD, MBA is the President and CEO of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs on Twitter@ArlenMD