Pneumonia has the highest mortality rate of any hospital acquired (nosocomial) infection and the most frequent reason for hospitalization (Langmore 2002). Uncomplicated pneumonia hospitalizations without use of the ICU is over $14,400 per episode.
Patients with a diagnosis of dysphagia spend on average 3 additional days in the hospital and have a 46% increase in hospital associated costs. FEES provide objective imaging and data to identify patients with dysphagia, drive effective treatment, and maximize outcomes.
Utilizing FEES to manage dysphagia offers significant financial savings in the long run all for the cost of a few hundred dollars.
