Why Access Matters in Value-Based Healthcare: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Quality Improvement Science

Background:

• Healthcare access is integral to quality improvement initiatives within health systems.
• Patient-centric strategies are key to optimizing healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To underscore the importance of healthcare access in quality improvement.
• To identify patient-centered strategies for enhancing healthcare access and quality.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched peer-reviewed publications from January 2013 to January 2023.
• Utilized interpretive synthesis for data analysis.

Main Results:

• 61 studies analyzed, covering health outcomes, patient satisfaction, operational efficiency, and cost containment.
• Key themes included impact on health outcomes (32 studies) and patient experience (15 studies).
• Identified focus on equity, structural racism, implicit bias, and disparities in education/literacy.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare access significantly influences the quality of care provided.
• Improved access positively impacts patient experience and overall health outcomes.
• Access to care is a foundational element of value-based medicine.