INAPPROPRIATE USE OF OXYGEN - LOSS OF A VALUABLE HEALTH-CARE RESOURCE

Oxygen (O-2) use is well established in hospitalized patients with hyp oxemia. However, its value in patients without hypoxemia is not well d ocumented. The authors conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the excess use of O-2 and the resulting loss of resources. They establish ed criteria for O-2 use by faculty consensus. Ninety-six patients (102 admissions) receiving O-2 between August and October 1991 were identi fied. Principal discharge diagnoses included cardiac diseases (37%), p ulmonary diseases (26.5%), and miscellaneous (36.5%). Cumulative oxyge n use was 9,742 hours. Appropriate O-2 amounted to 3,272 hours (34%), and inappropriate O-2 use was 6,470 hours (66%). The billing for O-2 u se was $38,468, of which $25,880 constituted inappropriate use. In 199 1, there were 7,743 admissions, with oxygen charges of $1.06 million. Extrapolation of the data shows billing for inappropriate oxygen was $ 697,000. The authors conclude that inappropriate use of oxygen results in significant loss of resources. Educational efforts to decrease thi s loss and evaluate its impact on patient outcome is needed.