Cost-effectiveness and patient satisfaction with pregnancy day care for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Objective: To quantify the cost-effectiveness of, and evaluate patient satisfaction with, day care for management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Design: Retrospective descriptive study. Setting: Pregnancy Day Care Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne. Sample: A total of 1200 consecutive women attending with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Methods: Sociodemographic details and perinatal outcome were entered in a purpose designed computer program. A satisfaction questionnaire was administered to 130 women. Clinical costing data were calculated by casemix analysts to compare traditional inpatient and day care models of care. Results: An admission to the Pregnancy Day Care Centre cost an average of $684.85 less than a traditional inpatient admission. Women had an overwhelming preference for day care. Conclusion: Pregnancy day care is a cost-effective method of providing care for women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Women prefer day care to inpatient care.