Improving Value for Patients with Eczema

Abstract

ObjectiveChronic diseases now represent a cost majority in the United States health care system. Contributing factors to rising costs include expensive novel and emerging therapies, under-treatment of disease, under-management of comorbidities, and patient dissatisfaction with care results. Critical to identifying replicable improvement methods is a reliable model to measure value. Study DesignIf we understand value within healthcare consumerism to be equal to a patient’s health outcome improvement over costs associated with care (Value=Outcomes/Costs), we can use this equation to measure the improvement of value. MethodsResearch and literature show that patient activation—the skills and confidence that equip patients to become actively engaged in their health care—impact health outcomes, costs, and patient experience. Reaching patient activation through engagement methods including shared decision-making (SDM) lead to improved value of care received. The National Eczema Association (NEA) Shared Decision-Making Resource Center can be a transformative strategy to measure and evaluate value of health care interventions for eczema patients to advance a value-driven health care system in the United States. ResultsThrough this Resource Center, NEA will measure patient value through their own perceptions using validated PRO instruments and other patient-generated health data. ConclusionsAssessment of this data will reveal findings that can assist researchers in evaluating the impact this care framework on patient-perceived value across other chronic diseases.