The most obvious cost in a capital budget is the actual cost of the capital expenditure item. We must also consider other costs that will be incurred when we make the capital expenditure (purchase). These costs are important to include because they can be the difference between a successful implementation of the capital expenditure item and staying on budget.

After reviewing the textbook readings,

Provide an example of a healthcare capital expenditure.

Explain the rationale behind the purpose of a capital expenditure budget.

Include two other cost considerations and explain their inclusion in your capital budget plan.

For example, if you are installing an Electronic Medical Records (EMR), you must include future cost for maintenance, software updates, new computers, etc. These are the hidden costs of operation often not considered in a capital budget.