How Much Does a Misplaced NG Tube Cost Hospitals?

NG and OG tube placement is routine in hospitals, but when a tube is misplaced, the impact is anything but. Clinical complications can be serious, and the financial consequences extend far beyond the cost of correcting a placement.

With misplacement rates ranging from 1.3% to 3.2%—and higher in emergency settings—every error becomes a preventable patient safety risk and a drain on hospital resources.

The Financial Impact of Misplaced NG/OG Tubes

Misplaced NG/OG tubes create a significant financial burden for healthcare facilities. Patient safety studies show tube misplacements can lead to serious complications including aspiration pneumonia, pneumothorax and even death in severe cases. The financial implications extend beyond the immediate expense of correcting the placement error and can substantially affect hospital budgets.

Direct Costs

X-rays
Repeat confirmation often involves multiple radiographs, each costing $300–$500 when including equipment use, staff time, and interpretation.

Extended hospital stays
Patients with complications may remain hospitalized an additional 2–7 days at $2,000–$5,000 per day. That adds up quickly.

Treatment for complications
Aspiration pneumonia, one of the most common outcomes of misplacement, costs $15,000–$40,000 per case to treat. ICU admissions from severe complications add $3,000–$10,000 per day.

Indirect Costs

Legal liability
Settlements related to tube misplacement can range from $100,000 to more than $1 million, especially if outcomes are severe or preventable.

Staff time
Each misplacement draws 2–4 hours of nursing and provider attention for confirmation, correction, documentation, and coordination.

Capacity limitations
Patients who stay longer due to complications occupy beds that could serve others—potentially delaying ED throughput or elective procedures.

Reputation and reimbursement
Preventable errors affect patient satisfaction scores, public ratings, and reimbursement under value-based payment models.

The Hidden Costs of Traditional Verification Methods

Many hospitals rely on traditional methods for verifying NG/OG tube placement, which carry significant financial and clinical burdens.

X-ray Confirmation

While still widely used, X-rays come with several drawbacks:

• Cost per image: $300–$500 or more
• Delayed care: Confirmation can take 45 minutes to several hours
• Radiation exposure: Especially concerning for neonates and pediatric patients
• Resource use: Ties up radiology teams and equipment

Auscultation

Injecting air and listening for sounds with a stethoscope may still be taught—but it’s no longer considered safe or reliable:

• Up to 80% error rates
• False positives that lead to preventable harm
• Zero clinical evidence supporting accuracy
• High potential for missed misplacements and downstream complications

The RightSpotpH Solution: Cost-Effective Verification

RightBio Metrics’ RightSpotpH® Indicator offers a safer, faster, and more cost-effective alternative for NG/OG tube verification—using the stomach’s natural acidity to confirm placement.

Financial Advantages

• Reduces X-ray use by 60-80%, saving $300–$500 per procedure
• Prevents complications by catching misplacements early
• Shortens length of stay by allowing faster feeding and treatment
• Optimizes staffing by enabling bedside verification without radiology involvement

Clinical Advantages

• Accurate: The RightSpotpH Indicator uses the stomach’s natural acidity (pH 1-5.5) to confirm proper placement.
• Immediate: Verification takes seconds rather than waiting for X-ray processing.
• Radiation-free: Patients avoid unnecessary radiation, especially important for vulnerable populations like neonates.
• Versatile: Works in ICUs, EDs, NICUs, and beyond

Real Cost Savings Analysis

Facilities that implement the RightSpotpH system typically report:

• 60–80% reduction in X-ray usage
• 30–50% fewer tube-related complications
• 15–25% shorter length of stay for tube-fed patients

For a mid-sized hospital placing 2,000 tubes per year, that translates to:

• X-ray savings: $360,000–$800,000
• Complication reduction: $450,000–$600,000
• Length of stay savings: $600,000–$1.5 million

Total potential annual savings: $1.4 million–$2.9 million

Making the Shift: What Implementation Looks Like

Hospitals can start realizing savings and clinical improvements by taking a few practical steps:

1. Update Protocols

Make pH testing your first-line method for tube placement confirmation. Reserve X-rays for cases where pH results are inconclusive or additional confirmation is needed.

2. Train Staff

RightBio Metrics provides training resources to get teams up to speed quickly. Most clinicians can become proficient after a short in-service session.

3. Monitor Results

Track metrics like misplacement rates, complications, radiology use, and time to feeding. Quantifying these improvements supports ongoing ROI analysis.

4. Evaluate Financial Impact

Compare costs before and after implementation. Many hospitals find that pH-based protocols pay for themselves within months.

Purpose-Built Tools for Every Patient Population

• RightSpotpH® Indicator: For most adult NG/OG tubes
• RightSpotpH® ENFit: Compatible with ENFit systems
• RightSpotpH® SmallBore: Designed for 10Fr or smaller tubes, ideal for NICU and pediatric care

All indicators provide fast, accurate pH confirmation with a simple color change—at the bedside, with no need for radiographic imaging.

Ready to See the ROI?

Hospitals don’t need to choose between clinical safety and operational efficiency. The RightSpotpH system supports both—and often pays for itself within the first year of use.

Contact Us to Setup a Live Demo to learn how RightBio Metrics can help your facility reduce costs while improving patient safety. Our physician-founded company specializes in pH testing technology that provides immediate, accurate verification of tube placement, helping hospitals save thousands while delivering safer patient care.