2.8 Implications for practice
Various methods can be used to modify healthcare delivery, such as changing the delivery setting (e.g. shifting from hospital-based care to home-based services), providing care in group settings instead of individual sessions, substituting the care provided by one healthcare provider with that of another suitably trained professional or non-professional, or using technology like telehealth.
Embracing alternative approaches may lead to comparable or even enhanced patient outcomes. However, they could also affect costs directly or shift them to other stakeholders, and potentially alter service demand due to improved accessibility. Therefore, alongside evaluating effectiveness, comprehensive economic assessments of different care delivery models are essential for guiding funding allocation based on relative merits. High-cost models, despite providing significant patient benefits, could still be considered worthwhile investments, whereas low-cost care models offering minimal or no benefits may have restricted value.
ACTIVITY
- From your clinical perspective, what are the main challenges in implementing alternative healthcare models to enhance value-based care?
- Can you provide examples of alternative healthcare models that you believe could significantly improve value-based healthcare? How do they differ from traditional models?
- In your experience, what are the key factors that contribute to the success of alternative healthcare models in delivering value-based care?
- How do you think alternative healthcare models can address disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, particularly in underserved communities?
- What role does interdisciplinary collaboration have in the implementation of alternative healthcare models to achieve value-based care?
- How can alternative healthcare models be integrated into existing healthcare systems without disrupting continuity of care or increasing costs?
- Are there specific patient populations or medical conditions for which alternative healthcare models are particularly effective in delivering value-based care?
- What strategies do you recommend for evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of alternative healthcare models in a real-world clinical setting?
- How do you see the future of healthcare delivery evolving with the widespread adoption of alternative healthcare models, particularly in the context of value-based reimbursement systems?
