OBJECTIVES: In hospitals, intravenous infusion (IVI) is a common invasive procedure. 70% of IVIs are gravity-based. When managing IVIs without electronic or digital control, serious mistakes can happen easily. We estimated the potential economic impact of the digital remote monitoring and bedside management of gravity-based IVIs with a novel solution compliant with EU Medical Devices Regulation (MDR 2017/745) and applying for FDA approval.

METHODS: Using the PICOSTEPS framework, we developed an R-based user interface model for the economic evaluation. Nurses delivering IVIs in 15 wards (6 hospitals) around Finland were surveyed. The CE-marked Monidor solution IV infusion management system (Monidrop^® and IV Screen™, Monidor Oy, Oulu, Finland) was compared to standard gravity-based IVI management in a counterfactual setting. Outcomes were the one-month undiscounted potential economic capacity freed (PECF), valued in year 2021 euros, and net return on investment (NROI) for the healthcare service provider. Effects included IVI-related events and nurse time use (linear regression analysis). Sensitivity of NROI was illustrated in a tornado diagram.

RESULTS: 216 survey responses were obtained. Less than 4% of nurses experienced additional time requirements due to the Monidor solution, and 56% reported time savings. On average, the Monidor solution saved 2.06 routine patient room visits, detected end of infusion 1.34 times, and freed 5.05 minutes per nurse shift. In the regression, one routine room visit avoided was associated with 2.45 minutes of freed time. The ward-based PECF was €1270 per month (50% related to material savings), yielding an NROI of 2.6. In the sensitivity analysis, the NROI ranged from 1.5 to 3.7.

CONCLUSIONS: The remote monitoring of IVIs with the Monidor solution freed nurse time, saved materials, provided PECF, and resulted in a robustly positive NROI in Finland. However, processes and costs between settings can vary, and the results should be confirmed in other countries.