Costs of a clinical pathway with point‐of‐care testing during influenza epidemic in a Dutch hospital

Our study aim was to determine how a new clinical pathway, including PCR‐based influenza point‐of‐care test (POCT), influences the hospitalisation costs of patients suspected of influenza presenting at the emergency department of a Dutch hospital during two consecutive influenza epidemics (2016‐2017 and 2017‐2018). Compared to mean costs per patient of €3661 in 2016‐2017, the implementation of this new clinical pathway with influenza POCT in 2017 was associated with mean costs per influenza‐positive patient of €2495 in 2017‐2018 (P = .3). Our study suggests favourable economic results regarding a new clinical pathway with influenza POCT, reflecting a more efficient care of patients suspected of influenza presenting at the emergency department.