Article
Annals of Emergency Medicine

Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing in Emergency Medicine

By: Robert S. Kaplan, Brian J. Yun, Anand M. Prabhakar, Jonathan Warsh, John Brennan, Kyle E. Dempsey and Ali S. Raja

Format:Print

Abstract

Value in emergency medicine is determined by both patient-important outcomes and the costs associated with achieving them. However, measuring true costs is challenging. Without an understanding of costs, emergency department (ED) leaders will be unable to determine which interventions might improve value for their patients. Although ongoing research may determine which outcomes are meaningful, an accurate costing system is also needed. This article reviews current costing mechanisms in the ED and their pitfalls. It then describes how time-driven activity-based costing may be superior to these current costing systems. Time-driven activity-based costing, in addition to being a more accurate costing system, can be used for process improvements in the ED.

Keywords

Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing; Emergency Room; Health Care and Treatment; Value; Cost Management; Activity Based Costing and Management

Citation

Kaplan, Robert S., Brian J. Yun, Anand M. Prabhakar, Jonathan Warsh, John Brennan, Kyle E. Dempsey, and Ali S. Raja. "Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing in Emergency Medicine." Annals of Emergency Medicine 67, no. 6 (June 2016): 765–772.