Setting the Equation
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: In Brief Study Design. Topic review. Objective. Describe value measurement in spine care and discuss the motivation for, methods for, and limitations of such measurement. Summary of Background Data. Spinal disorders are common and are an important cause of pain and disability. Numerous complementary and competing treatment strategies are used to treat spinal disorders, and the costs of these treatments is substantial and continue to rise despite clear evidence of improved health status as a result of these expenditures. Methods. The authors present the economic and legislative imperatives forcing the assessment of value in spine care. The definition of value in health care and methods to measure value specifically in spine care are presented. Limitations to the utility of value judgments and caveats to their use are presented. Results. Examples of value calculations in spine care are presented and critiqued. Methods to improve and broaden the measurement of value across spine care are suggested, and the role of prospective registries in measuring value is discussed. Conclusion. Value can be measured in spine care through the use of appropriate economic measures and patient-reported outcomes measures. Value must be interpreted in light of the perspective of the assessor, the duration of the assessment period, the degree of appropriate risk stratification, and the relative value of treatment alternatives. Level of Evidence: N/A Because of economic and legislative imperatives, resource allocation in spine care will be determined using the concept of value. Value can be measured in spine care, and mechanisms to do so are presented. Caveats regarding the utility of value data are presented along with suggestions for accurate interpretation.
Source: Spine
Language: English
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2333956514