Impact of the introduction of fetal central monitoring on hospital expenses with cardiotocographic paper

Abstract

Digital storage of cardiotocographic (CTG) tracings by fetal central monitoring systems (fCMS) obviates the need for printing, or alternatively, the tracings can be printed in regular paper instead of CTG thermal paper. We aimed at evaluating the impact of the introduction of the Omniview-SisPorto^® system on CTG paper costs in a large university hospital. After introduction of the fCMS, there was an 87% reduction in median annual expenses with CTG paper in the labour ward (p = 0.011) and a 78% decrease in the prenatal clinic (p = 0.017), despite a more than 40% increase in the median number of observed women. Routine use of fCMS may provide an important reduction in hospital expenses associated with the use of thermal CTG paper, thus reducing the investment made in their acquisition and maintenance.

Keywords::

• General obstetrics
• intrapartum care
• heart rate
• fetal
• cardiotocography
• central monitoring
• health costs

Declaration of interest: João Bernardes and Diogo Ayres- de-Campos were involved in the development of the Omniview-SisPorto® system. The Institute of Biomedical Engineering receives royalties from commercialisation of this system, but these are solely used for the purpose of research and development.