The Clinic by Cleveland Clinic produced an average savings of $8,705 per patient by providing virtual second opinions, a recent analysis found.
The analysis, conducted by healthcare consulting firm Vital Statistics, was based on a random sample of 300 charts from the clinic's 2023 cases. It used medical coding and industry-standard cost data to quantify savings associated with each case.
The records showed 67% of patients had a recommended change in treatment or diagnosis and recommended hospitalization 62% less often than primary treatment plans. In cases where surgery was recommended, clinic physicians recommended an alternative treatment 85% of the time, according to a March 26 system news release.
The amount saved per patient changed depending on the disease:
- For musculoskeletal conditions, the average savings per patient was $28,220.
- For cardiovascular conditions, the average savings per patient was $8,036.
- For cancer-related conditions, the average savings per patient was $4,306.
- The average savings per patient for high-cost cases, for which the primary treatment plan cost above $10,000, was $100,911.
The Clinic by Cleveland Clinic allows patients across the country to get second opinions through telehealth.