Cost-effective management of benign positional vertigo using canalith repositioning

OBJECTIVE: The misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment of benign positiona l vertigo have resulted in significant costs to the medical system. In the current medical-economic climate, there is an increased emphasis on cost co ntrol. Recent studies have shown that the canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) is effective; the next step is to show the impact of CRP in cost-effe ctive management of benign positional vertigo. METHODS: Forty-six of 100 patients who underwent CRP for benign positional vertigo responded to a survey regarding the financial impact of their disea se. They were asked to subjectively estimate the sum of all disease-related expenses. Objective substantiation of this number was estimated by tabulat ing physician data, laboratory data, and failed treatment costs. RESULTS: The subjective figure totaled $2684.74 per individual. Summation o f the tangible objective figures yielded $2009.63 per patient, corroboratin g the subjective figure. CONCLUSIONS: Because CRP is a relatively simple procedure that can obviate many wasted expenses in most patients, we believe that if is very cost-effe ctive and should be incorporated into routine practice.