Relational value: bridging the worldview gap between patients and health systems

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Primary Care Medicine
• Health Systems Integration

Background:

• Family medicine has long advocated for holistic healthcare and integrated resources.
• The benefits of this integrated approach are not fully recognized by consumers, payers, and policymakers.
• Effective communication requires using marketplace language and demonstrating value.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a new framework for visualizing healthcare integration and relationships.
• To introduce the concept of "relational value" to articulate the benefits of a holistic approach.
• To provide primary care physicians with terminology to communicate added value to stakeholders.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the marketplace concept of "value" to frame integration.
• Developing a new term, "relational value," to represent the benefits of integrated care.
• Proposing two actionable ideas for creating relational value.

Main Results:

• A new framework for understanding healthcare integration through the lens of "value."
• The introduction of "relational value" as a key concept for communicating benefits.
• Identification of strategies to enhance the delivery of integrated healthcare.

Conclusions:

• The concept of "relational value" can effectively communicate the benefits of holistic, integrated primary care.
• This framework can help primary care physicians better engage with administrators and policymakers.
• New healthcare delivery models can be developed by focusing on creating relational value.