Independent Study Title Costs and Subsidies or Compensation for Emergency Medical Operations Case Study: Bangkok

Abstract

The objectives of this research were: (1) to study cost of emergency medical services in the ground operations for Advanced Life Support Unit and Basic Life Support Unit (2) to study cost of notification and ordering by The Bangkok Emergency Medical Service (Erawan Center), Medical Department, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. (3) to study unit cost of emergency medical service, and (4) to study suitable rates of emergency medical service fees. Conceptual framework is based on hospital cost analysis. This study was based on average cost over 5 years from fiscal year 2012 to fiscal year 2016. By collecting cost data, together with random sampling from 32 samples, this was a cost evaluation study from service provider’s perspective. Using both conventional method or traditional method and the simultaneous equation method yielded the descriptive statistic results, such as frequency, percentage, and mean. Research findings showed that: (1) total cost of emergency medical services for the ground operation was 118,148,838.65 Baht as accounted for labor cost: material cost: investment cost in the ratio of 62.18: 14.82: 23.00. (2) total cost of running a dispatch center was 10,517,990.90 Baht as accounted for labor cost: material cost: investment cost in the ratio of 84.13: 7.35: 8.52 respectively, (3) average cost for emergency medical services for ALS level was 6,604.58 Baht per visit and BLS level was 1,025.50 Baht per visit, and (4) actual operating cost for ALS level was 1,376.45 Baht per visit, while for BLS level was 559.17 Baht per visit. Therefore, appropriate emergency medical service rate should have been equal to or higher than average cost of ground operation.