Value-based preoperative assessment in a large academic hospital

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Health Services Research
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Value-based healthcare (VBHC) prioritizes patient value and cost efficiency.
• It shifts focus from service volume to delivered value, improving outcomes and experiences.
• This study evaluated a VBHC-principled preoperative evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a tailored, VBHC-principled preoperative evaluation.
• To enhance patient care and outcomes.
• To reduce healthcare costs through optimized resource utilization.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement, before-and-after study design was used.
• VBHC strategies were implemented in preoperative evaluation clinics.
• A VBHC-tailored risk matrix was introduced, comparing 2021 data to 2019 baseline.

Main Results:

• A significant decrease in preoperative tests per patient was observed (6.2 to 5.3).
• Preoperative evaluation duration shortened significantly (373 to 290 minutes).
• Cost analysis showed significant reductions with no adverse impact on clinical outcomes.

Conclusions:

• A tailored preoperative evaluation approach based on VBHC principles is feasible and safe.
• VBHC implementation demonstrably enhanced value by reducing patient time and unnecessary tests.
• The strategy proved cost-effective, supporting its wider adoption.