Health Service Utilization Among Patients With Barrett’s Esophagus: Using Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy Versus Standard of Care

Given the sharp rise in the cost of goods and the persistent procedural backlog following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying new efficiencies for routine procedures has never been more important. Healthcare facilities bear the brunt of the unfavorable trend, where the American Hospital Association (AHA) reports that growth in expenses across labor, drugs and supplies, coupled with inflation, is seriously harming short- and long-term hospital finances. Furthermore, a survey of nearly 200 ambulatory surgery center (ASC) administrators found that 72% of operating budgets either stayed flat or declined in 2022, while costs increased. The current financial atmosphere is creating obstacles for both patients and providers, and the healthcare industry urgently needs to incorporate sustainable, cost-effective practices into the standard of care for routine procedures.