Table 3.
Estimated healthcare costs
| Test | Price (A$) | Observation only | I.v. fluids + Observation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity, mean | Cost, mean (A$) | Quantity, mean | Cost, mean (A$) | ||
| Tests | |||||
| Blood alcohol content | 22.12 | 1 | 22.12 | 1 | 22.12 |
| Urea, electrolytes | 13.07 | 1 | 13.07 | 1 | 13.07 |
| Full blood count | 15.95 | 1 | 15.95 | 1 | 15.95 |
| Subtotal tests | 51.14 | 51.14 | |||
| Breath analyser | |||||
| Breath alcohol level | 0.04 | 3 | 0.12 | 3 | 0.12 |
| Mouth piece | 0.20 | 3 | 0.60 | 3 | 0.60 |
| Subtotal breath analyser | 0.72 | 0.72 | |||
| Material | |||||
| Saline 1 L bag | 2.80 | 0 | — | 1 | 2.80 |
| I.v. cannula | 1.99 | 1 | 1.99 | 1 | 1.99 |
| I.v. giving set | 4.70 | 0 | — | 1 | 4.70 |
| Needle-free valve | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 | 1 | 2.00 |
| EDTA vial | 0.11 | 1 | 0.11 | 1 | 0.11 |
| Serum vial | 0.20 | 1 | 0.20 | 1 | 0.20 |
| Subtotal material | 4.30 | 11.80 | |||
| Staff | |||||
| Nursing (+ night differential) | 45.28 | 1.04 | 47.25 | 1.12 | 50.83 |
| Medical (+ night differential) | 48.72 | 0.43 | 21.11 | 0.86 | 41.95 |
| Subtotal staff | 68.36 | 92.78 | |||
| Grand total | 124.52 | 156.44 | |||