How Can Hospitals Cut Costs on Tube Placement Confirmation?

Hospitals are under constant pressure to manage costs while maintaining the highest standards of care. One area with overlooked financial potential is the confirmation of NG and OG tube placement. Traditional X-ray verification, while effective, is resource-intensive, delays treatment, and exposes patients to unnecessary radiation.

Today, many facilities are adopting gastric pH testing as a faster, more cost-effective alternative—without sacrificing safety.

The True Cost of X-ray Confirmation

X-rays have long been considered the standard for verifying NG/OG tube placement, but the process involves more than just taking an image.

X-ray verification requires:

• Radiographic equipment and maintenance
  
• Radiologist interpretation and technician time
  
• Patient transport to imaging departments
  
• Delays in care while waiting for results
  
• Radiation exposure—especially concerning for NICU, pediatric, and repeat-use populations
  

In high-volume departments like emergency rooms and ICUs, these costs add up fast. For many hospitals, X-ray verification represents a significant and avoidable expense.

A Smarter Solution: Gastric pH Testing

Gastric pH testing uses the stomach’s natural acidity to confirm proper tube placement. The stomach typically maintains a pH between 1 and 5.5—significantly different from the pH of the respiratory tract. When aspirate tested at the bedside falls within this range, providers can verify that the tube is correctly placed in the stomach.

The RightSpotpH® Indicator leverages this principle to deliver fast, evidence-based verification—without radiation, imaging delays, or added staffing requirements.

Key Financial Benefits of pH Testing

The RightSpotpH® Indicator uses this principle to provide immediate confirmation of tube placement, offering several cost advantages:

1. Fewer X-rays
   Replacing X-ray as the default method reduces imaging demand, frees up radiology for more complex diagnostics, and lowers per-patient costs.
   
2. Faster Care Delivery
   Immediate verification supports earlier feeding, medication administration, and discharge—saving hours per patient in some cases.
3. Reduced Staff Utilization
   Unlike X-rays, pH testing can be performed by the same clinician placing the tube, streamlining workflow and reducing handoffs.
4. Fewer Complications
   Misplaced tubes can lead to aspiration pneumonia or NV-HAP—conditions that increase costs by tens of thousands of dollars per case. Fast, reliable verification helps prevent them.

Cost Comparison: pH Testing vs. X-ray Confirmation

When comparing the direct costs, pH testing with devices like the RightSpotpH® Indicator is significantly less expensive than X-ray confirmation:

• X-ray Confirmation: Involves equipment costs, technician time, radiologist interpretation and potential care delays.
  
• pH Testing: Requires only the pH indicator device at significantly lower cost and can be performed by the same clinician who placed the tube.
  

The financial difference grows more substantial when factoring in indirect costs like patient throughput times and complications from delayed confirmation. A thorough cost analysis should include both immediate procedural expenses and downstream financial implications.

Implementation Strategies for Cost-Effective Tube Confirmation

Hospitals can transition to pH testing with minimal disruption by following a few key steps:

1. Update Protocols
   Use pH testing as the first-line method. Reserve X-rays for cases where pH readings are inconclusive or where clinical concerns require additional confirmation.
   
2. Train Clinical Staff
   Educate teams on the simplicity and reliability of gastric pH testing. The learning curve is short—clinicians can be fully trained in one session.
   
3. Monitor and Measure
   Track verification times, complication rates, and radiology usage to demonstrate cost savings and support ongoing process improvement.

Specialized Tools for Different Clinical Settings

RightBio Metrics offers a range of RightSpotpH® indicators to meet diverse clinical needs:

Emergency Departments
In fast-paced environments, quick confirmation helps reduce delays and improve patient flow.

ICUs
In intensive care units, point-of-care testing avoids the need to transport critically ill or ventilated patients for X-ray confirmation.

Neonatal and Pediatric Units
The SmallBore Indicator (for tubes 10Fr or smaller) is designed to protect the most vulnerable patients by eliminating unnecessary radiation exposure.

Beyond Direct Costs: The Broader Financial Impact

The return on investment from pH testing goes beyond reducing X-ray costs. Facilities that adopt this method often report:

• Fewer complications and associated treatment costs
  
• Improved patient satisfaction from faster care
  
• Lower liability exposure related to tube misplacement
  
• More efficient use of radiology services
  

With value-based care and hospital-acquired condition penalties now part of reimbursement models, preventing avoidable harm is both a clinical and financial priority.

The RightSpotpH® Advantage

Developed by physicians in gastroenterology and emergency medicine, the RightSpotpH® Indicator is an FDA-cleared, single-use tool designed to deliver safe, cost-effective NG/OG tube verification across healthcare settings.

By combining clinical accuracy with ease of use, RightBio Metrics helps hospitals reduce complications, eliminate unnecessary X-rays, and improve care efficiency.

See the Savings in Action

Schedule a live demo to learn how RightSpotpH® Indicators can help your facility reduce costs, minimize complications, and streamline verification workflows.

Contact Us to Setup a Live Demo to see how our solutions can help your facility reduce costs while maintaining the highest standards of patient care.