Poster Session II
Project Type
Poster
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Valerie Moody
Faculty Mentor’s Department
IPAT
Abstract / Artist's Statement
Evaluating the Cost and Feasibility of ECG-Integrated Cardiac Screening in High School Athletes
Smith, S, Held, T, Godbout, B & Moody, VJ : University of Montana
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young athletes is rare but catastrophic and may not be detected through standard pre-participation physicals, which rely heavily on history and basic examination. This pilot study evaluated the cost and feasibility of integrating resting electrocardiogram (ECG) screening into high school sports physicals.
Thirty high school hockey athletes complete an ECG-enhanced screening consisting of cardiac history, vitals, resting ECG, and physician examination. The average screening time per athlete was 19 minutes using a two-room ECG workflow. Most ECGs were normal (96.7%), and 86.7% of athletes required no follow-up. Targeted follow-up was recommended for 13/3% of athletes due to family history risk, sinus arrhythmia, or blood pressure concerns.
Direct event cost was approximately $246 per athlete for a 30-athlete screening but decreased to ~$148 per athlete when participation exceeded 50 athletes, demonstrating strong economies of scale. Major cost drivers included staffing (ECG technicians and physician oversight), equipment utilization, and facility space. Because abnormal findings were infrequent, downstream referral costs were limited to a small subset of athletes, reducing unnecessary specialty burden. On a per-athlete basis, the cost approaches that of other routine preventive screenings, suggesting financial feasibility when implemented as large, centralized events.
ECG-integrated screening appears operationally feasible, with per-athlete costs decreasing as volume increases. Larger multi-sport evaluations are needed to assess long-term cost-effectiveness and sustainable funding models.
Category
Physical Sciences
Evaluating the Cost and Feasibility of ECG-Integrated Cardiac Screening in High School Athletes
UC South Ballroom
Evaluating the Cost and Feasibility of ECG-Integrated Cardiac Screening in High School Athletes
Smith, S, Held, T, Godbout, B & Moody, VJ : University of Montana
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young athletes is rare but catastrophic and may not be detected through standard pre-participation physicals, which rely heavily on history and basic examination. This pilot study evaluated the cost and feasibility of integrating resting electrocardiogram (ECG) screening into high school sports physicals.
Thirty high school hockey athletes complete an ECG-enhanced screening consisting of cardiac history, vitals, resting ECG, and physician examination. The average screening time per athlete was 19 minutes using a two-room ECG workflow. Most ECGs were normal (96.7%), and 86.7% of athletes required no follow-up. Targeted follow-up was recommended for 13/3% of athletes due to family history risk, sinus arrhythmia, or blood pressure concerns.
Direct event cost was approximately $246 per athlete for a 30-athlete screening but decreased to ~$148 per athlete when participation exceeded 50 athletes, demonstrating strong economies of scale. Major cost drivers included staffing (ECG technicians and physician oversight), equipment utilization, and facility space. Because abnormal findings were infrequent, downstream referral costs were limited to a small subset of athletes, reducing unnecessary specialty burden. On a per-athlete basis, the cost approaches that of other routine preventive screenings, suggesting financial feasibility when implemented as large, centralized events.
ECG-integrated screening appears operationally feasible, with per-athlete costs decreasing as volume increases. Larger multi-sport evaluations are needed to assess long-term cost-effectiveness and sustainable funding models.