Value-Based Healthcare in Urology: A Collaborative Review

• Published in: European urology Vol. 79; no. 5; pp. 571 - 585
• Main Authors: Reitblat, Chanan, Bain, Paul A., Porter, Michael E., Bernstein, David N., Feeley, Thomas W., Graefen, Markus, Iyer, Santosh, Resnick, Matthew J., Stimson, C.J., Trinh, Quoc-Dien, Gershman, Boris
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Elsevier B.V 01.05.2021
• Subjects: Child; Costs and Cost Analysis; Delivery of Health Care; Humans; Integrated Practice Units; Male; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Outcome measurement; Prostatic Neoplasms - therapy; Time-driven activity-based costing; Urologic oncology; Urology; Value-based healthcare; Integrated Practice Units; Outcome measurement; Value-based healthcare; Time-driven activity-based costing; Urologic oncology; Urology
• ISSN: 0302-2838; 1873-7560
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2020.12.008

In response to growing concerns over rising costs and major variation in quality, improving value for patients has been proposed as a fundamentally new strategy for how healthcare should be delivered, measured, and remunerated. To systematically review the literature regarding the implementation and impact of value-based healthcare in urology. A systematic review was performed to identify studies that described the implementation of one or more elements of value-based healthcare in urologic settings and in which the associated change in healthcare value had been measured. Twenty-two publications were selected for inclusion. Reorganization of urologic care around medical conditions was associated with increased use of guidelines-compliant care for men with prostate cancer, and improved outcomes for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. Measuring outcomes for every patient was associated with improved prostate cancer outcomes, while the measurement of costs using time-driven activity-based costing was associated with reduced resource utilization in a pediatric multidisciplinary clinic. Centralization of urologic cancer care in the UK, Denmark, and Canada was associated with overall improved outcomes, although systems integration in the USA yielded mixed results among urologic cancer patients. No studies have yet examined bundled payments for episodes of care, expanding the geographic reach for centers of excellence, or building enabling information technology platforms. Few studies have critically assessed the actual or simulated implementation of value-based healthcare in urology, but the available literature suggests promising early results. In order to effectively redesign care, there is a need for further research to both evaluate the potential results of proposed value-based healthcare interventions and measure their effects where already implemented. While few studies have evaluated the implementation of value-based healthcare in urology, the available literature suggests promising early results. Few studies have critically assessed the actual or simulated implementation of value-based healthcare in urology, but the available literature suggests promising early results. In order to redesign care effectively, there is a need for further research to both evaluate the potential results of proposed value-based healthcare interventions and measure their effects where already implemented.