Value based healthcare is a direct answer to changes in social structure and technological development. Since the number of people suffering from chronic diseases is constantly rising, alongside the awareness about the importance of proper healthcare, value based healthcare is becoming more and more prevalent. The idea behind this model is that healthcare providers receive benefits based on the effectiveness of the treatment not just for the treatment itself.
Value based healthcare – key issues
One of the most important factors in value based healthcare are constant measurements of patients’ condition. Currently most of the Polish systems are unable to holistically monitor the patients results. This is problematic because the regularity of the monitoring is crucial to determine the quality and effectiveness of the prescribed treatment. Constant monitoring provides the link between patients results and particular methods of treatment. Comparison of the results can bring palpable value in the form of visible differences between particular healthcare providers, procedure algorithms and care organisation. What is more it enables identification of variables that create those differences to address them in the future, this in turn may help in overall improvement of patient well-being. It is also important to notice that value based healthcare requires the inclusion of measurements and their costs, but also works for their reduction and to decrease the burden placed on healthcare providers.
Value based healthcare – Gathering and use of data
One of the most important variables in value based healthcare is the inclusion of patients’ opinions and observations in the process of the therapy. These opinions are usually gathered using PROM (Patient Reported Outcomes Measures) and are a significant source of valuable information, regarding patients comfort and well-being during the therapy. Using that feedback it is possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment faster and with better accuracy. However systematic gathering and reporting about treatment results is conditioned by the authenticity of medical records. Those records are used for data storage and analysis, that allow for the creation of more effective algorithms and better treatment adjustment.
It is also important to notice that medical records are not the only source of real world evidence. Such data can also be gathered from electronic medical records, healthcare applications and medical devices. These, if properly employed may be a source of valuable information about the accuracy and safety of particular treatment in clinical research.
