The Value Framework
As a "profession," our field is traditionally loathe to share data and experiences. But now that Value-based health care is coming, we must have good data to remain viable as as allied health care professionals. And nothing you can do alone can provide you with the data you will need to prove your value. Working together as a group is the only way to achieve the scale necessary to thrive. For example, Unit-price discounts are based primarily on contracting and negotiating leverage...the larger the purchasing power, the greater the discount. It's the same with data. A large pool of patient outcomes data, including patient satisfaction data, will help us tell our story and demonstrate our value to healthcare. But our "Profession" will only benefit from the data if we take a more holistic, patient-centered approach to value, one that focuses equally on health-care spending and treatment outcomes. Here are five concepts to consider as you define value and identify tools that are appropriate for the new era. They are: Right living. Patients must be encouraged to play an active role in their own health by making the right choices about diet, exercise, preventive care, and other lifestyle factors. Right care. Patients must receive the most timely, appropriate treatment available. In addition to relying heavily on protocols, right care requires a coordinated approach, with all caregivers having access to the same information and working toward the same goal to avoid duplication of effort and suboptimal treatment strategies. Right provider. Any professionals who treat patients must have strong performance records and be capable of achieving the best outcomes. They should also be selected based on their skill sets and abilities rather than their job titles. For instance, practitioners often perform many tasks that do not require a practitioner's level of education and experience. Consider a practice model that encourages Clinical Assistants. Right value. Providers and payors should continually look for ways to improve value while preserving or improving health-care quality. For example, they could develop a system in which provider reimbursement is tied to patient outcomes or undertake programs designed to eliminate wasteful spending. Right innovation. Stakeholders must focus on identifying new interventions and approaches to orthotic and prostheticcare delivery.
The value pathways evolve as new data become available, fostering a feedback loop. The concept of right care, for instance, could change if new data suggest that the standard protocol for a particular disease does not produce optimal results. And a change in one pathway could spur changes in others, since they are interdependent. An investigation into right value, for example, could reveal that patients are most likely to suffer costly complications after an amputation if the surgeon follows certain protocols or procedures. Sharing data in a coordinated way among the profession could transform the healthcare world's preconcieved notions about this field, but also demonstrate the value our professionals bring to the patient care equation.