A single-patient intensive care unit (ICU) room design reduces the risks of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), cutting care costs enough to more than cover the construction expense, according to an article on the Fierce Healthcare website
A study published in the Journal of Critical Care analyzed costs associated with single rooms or conversion of multi-patient rooms to private ones, factoring in initial construction costs and long-term maintenance expenses.
The researchers found private-room construction had a 56.18 percent rate of return, considerably more than the rates healthcare organizations require before a project is considered feasible, according to the article.
The investment makes even more sense when compared with the cost of treating HAIs as well as the associated financial penalties, the study said.
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