Skills for Learning in Care
Table of Contents
TASK 1 2
TASK 2 4
Implications of Value-Based Healthcare on Service Users 4
TASK 3 8
Personal vision 8
SWOT Analysis 9
Action Plan 10
Conclusion 16
References 17
TASK 1
To present a discussion on ‘value-based healthcare’, a total of six references were used for research. This includes two academic journals, two websites and two books that provide relevant and useful information on value-based techniques and implications for healthcare.
‘Redefining Health: Implication for Value-Based Healthcare Reform’ is a study by Ikhwanuliman Putera explains how the value-added framework holds bigger and broader implications for the healthcare industry. The author conducts a literature review by studying the emergence of value-added care services and the kinds of technologies and innovations it can bring in improving the overall healthcare system. This study was selected for its inclusion of IoT integration, utilization of patient-outcome related measures, and ways to improve care delivery systems are a few topics discussed in this paper.
A paper by Baslyman et al. (2017) highlights the greater demand for integrative and activity-based approaches due to the shifting paradigms in the healthcare sector. This study was selected to discuss the use of the activity-based performance indicator to measure the quality of outcomes that go beyond patient satisfaction and organizational goals.
The book Critical Supervision for the Human Services: A Social Model to Promote Learning and Value-based practice by Lou Johnston, Carolyn Noble, Mel Gray talks about the need for value-based approaches in human services. As healthcare is all about providing services for well-being and good health of the society, the book is selected to highlight important points and lay emphasis on strategies that bring more value than focusing on monetary gains, because that is not what human service is about.
Introduction to Evidence-based Practice in Nursing and Health Care is a book by Alison Pooler (2011) that talks about how value-added healthcare services are the responsibility of practitioners and healthcare providers. The book highlights the beneficial practices under evidence-based approaches and how these strategies can help providers look at value-added healthcare systems in an emerging light.
An analysis report ‘Maximising the impact of patient-reported outcome assessment for patients and society’ release by BMJ online discusses positive implications of a value-based healthcare framework and specifically emphasizes patient-outcome related management system (PROM) as an efficient and effective way to improve operational efficiency in the overall healthcare system. From reducing costs for patients to providing financial benefits to providers, measures patient outcomes against the costs of services is a new benchmark that is revolutionizing the way healthcare firms operate and offer value to patients today. The paper was selected as it points out certain measurement scales and questionnaires can be used under the PROMIS framework in order to improve the quality of care provided whilst reducing costs and burden for patients.
‘Five Reasons Why Value-based Healthcare is Beneficial’ is an article on HealthManagement.org website, which talks about how value-based care strategies can prove beneficial as a long-term health goal. The article was selected for its invaluable information on value-based healthcare that concentrates more on delivering value through a system that is designed to certain preferences and needs of patients, instead of being solely disease-centered.
TASK 2
Implications of Value-Based Healthcare on Service Users
Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC) has become the new setting framework for most medical firms and health professionals today. With the aim of providing more value, value-based healthcare services reduce costs and focus on achieving better patient outcomes against the standard service fee approach. Based on the patient outcomes reported and analyzed, providers are given their fee that measures against evidence of well-being and healthy living. While the benefits of VBHC services extend primarily to the service users (patients), the same has indirect but significant implications on other branches of the medical field such as manufacturers, providers, commercial payers, and the whole society. The ever-changing evidence-based approach reflected through value-based healthcare strategies has become essential in the improvement of patients’ health, curb chronic illnesses and reduce the effects of diseases. In order to develop and promote a healthy population, value-based healthcare has been defined as a qualitative healthcare system that prioritizes patient outcomes more than the costs measured against the desired outcomes (Economic Intelligence Unit 2016). Therefore, value-based care services emphasize on the costs generated based on patient outcomes, instead of measuring costs against the volume of services offered.
An integrative and collaborative framework such as value-based healthcare has been observed to mostly have positive implications on patients, providers, manufacturers, and payers. By targeting a patient-centered design, value-based services do more than just reducing costs and improving the quality of services and outcomes. To begin with, a VBHC framework can reduce considerable costs for patients. The cost of treating chronic diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, obesity, and cancer can be expensive depending on the condition of a patient. However, value-based care models aim to reduce the need for patients to regularly visit a doctor, minimize the need for undergoing frequent medical procedures, and reduce prescription costs in the long run. Patients, in turn, are able to get more value for the money they spend, with better quality of care and services that are more patient-centered. In terms of quality, value-based healthcare services are more inclined towards provided value by addressing outcomes like patient satisfaction, preferences, mortality rates, reoperations/revisits, consideration of limitations, and more, making VBHC a great framework in improving the overall quality of a patient’s life (Baslyman et al., 2017). Additionally, the preferences of patients are always specific and prioritized in value-based care strategies. One of the key methods of implemented and utilizing value-based care to its best is through Patient-Related Outcome Measures Information System (PROMIS), which has been introduced to measure patient outcomes post-treatments. The PROM procedure has evidently helped to assess the functional status of patients’ physical, mental, and social health better and effectively. While the PROMIS is an effective assessment method to measure the quality and expectations of outcomes, standard sets of outcomes are yet to be implemented in the VBHC framework. According to the efforts of the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement, various outcome measurement methods like the Patient Health Questionnaire, Rose Dyspnea Score, and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire to comprehensively document the quality of life during and after the treatment from a patient’s perspective (Pooler 2011).
Apart from patients as the main and active users, value-based healthcare services have a role in strengthening the overall primary and secondary healthcare system. This includes manufacturers, providers, suppliers, payers, and providers. Providers are greatly benefitted mainly because of the high and positive rewards that come from quality care management and delivery of value-added services that live up to the expected patient outcomes. As opposed to a fee-for-service payment system that holds great financial risks for providers at the moment, returns based on patient outcomes provide more flexibility to providers as they don’t have to depend on payments solely based on the volume of services offered. The payment method also benefits payers by enabling them to request for bundles or one-time payments instead of having to pool premiums year after year, reducing financial risks. Thus, value-based care models that prioritize quality over quantity allow providers to focus on preventive methods designed for patients instead of spending time on disease management services. Value-based payments also refine the healthcare pricing structure for payers and suppliers. For health care firms and manufacturers, reduced cost to match or exceed positive patient outcomes becomes an important business and selling proposition, due to which supplies in the industry should ideally realign prices of their products and services (Stichler 2011). Thus, patients are able to take advantage of the revised and reduced price structure on prescriptions, medicines, drugs for treatments, and overall healthcare costs. Additionally, the fact that patients are allowed to choose their primary care physicians improves the competition amongst healthcare providers, which is achieved through integrated and collaborative planning in the value-added healthcare framework. Under primary care, value-added healthcare strategies focus on efforts like prioritizing patient preferences, grouping patients according to their sets of preferences and not based on diseases, integrated care methods that can deliver more value and desirable outcomes for patients, and offering bundle payments for an overall primary care package. All these factors tend to incorporate the idea of more valued integration and collaboration with providers, manufacturers, payers, etc. to improve the overall healthcare system (Enthoven et al. 2007).
Focusing further on the beneficial implications of PROMIS as a value-added healthcare assessment strategy, coordinated and integrated approaches are being considered to reduce efforts and costs for patients. A PROM assessment can utilize computerized methods and automated technology to reduce the burden of patients, healthcare specialists, and providers by making access to patients’ records and data easier, safer, and quicker. Under the assessment technique, patients can also choose to know how their data will be used and who will be using them. This ensures complete safety for the patient as it secures their data and records in the most efficient way possible. Greater flexibility is observed when data is shared between patients and healthcare specialists, which improve workflow, data management procedures, adherence to safety compliances, and complete protection of patients’ data. Emphasizing the fact that value-added provides an ample of benefits with regard to patient outcomes and data, another opportunity with value-added healthcare frameworks is to utilize the Internet of Things (IoT) for maximum effectiveness in data storage and protection (Pessaux & Cherkaoui 2018). A comprehensive study done to study the implications of IoT as a result of value-added strategies for the healthcare industry has observed a number of advantages. By aiming to focus on patients’ primary healthcare better, IoT can be used to automate data records and management systems for easy sharing and access among providers, medical practitioners, physicians, providers, and stakeholders (Pooler 2011).
Without a doubt, the best kind of a healthcare system is based on value, and not the volume of healthcare services offered. Value-added healthcare not only structures and realigns the overall system to be more patient-centric but also addresses the financial risks and welfare challenges that providers, suppliers, and manufacturers face when meeting primary and healthcare secondary needs. By measuring costs against the quality of care provided, the healthcare industry can start becoming more competitive and accountable to patients’ care and preferences. Till date, the ‘fee-for-service’ payment for primary care services have always posed a problem considering a patient’s full and comprehensive cycle of care. With the introduction and encouragement of value-added frameworks, cost as the biggest concern is the healthcare industry gets resolved easily. Thus, value-added healthcare is beyond provided value to patients or a monetary and sales edge to healthcare firms and providers; it is a way to promote healthy living and well-being in society (Noble, Gray & Johnston 2010). The concepts of value-based healthcare compel professionals and firms to re-examine different healthcare aspects in order to bring more value and efficiency to the way patients and healthcare professionals communicate and collaborate on achieving successful outcomes. In order to offer value-added care services within the standard framework and adherence guidelines, care centers can be set up at locations that bring the costs down for patients and the firm. Low-cost locations will lead to less expensive treatments and services, without compromising on the quality of expected patient outcomes. Thus, integrated care systems allow for more flexibility in medical firms as they have to focus more on limiting efforts and defining their range of services (Bretthauer & Savin 2018).
TASK 3
As an aspiring healthcare professional, my aim is to be able to provide more value to patients and healthcare providers in every way possible. After completing my program, I see myself beginning my career as a healthcare assistant and eventually achieve the post of a healthcare information specialist in a reputed healthcare firm.
Personal vision
I wish to provide more value to patients by reducing costs and helping them make the best use of quality medical services. Having worked as a healthcare worker in the past, I realize that I have a few strengths but more weaknesses that I need to work on.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths: I have previous expertise as a community healthcare worker that has helped me gain confidence and develop my leadership skills. It is very important for healthcare professionals to be more involved with their surroundings, especially if they are working towards value-based healthcare frameworks (Putera 2017). My association and capabilities as a healthcare worker for the community will certainly add value to the firm I work with in the future, which can help communities address present-day healthcare challenges more efficiently.
Weaknesses:
Considering value-added healthcare services, it is highly important for care information specialists to become proficient with technology today. Having only theoretical knowledge is not enough. The need for value-based healthcare is increasing, and so is the demand for healthcare professionals who are proficient in technology. Learning the best practices in technology can help improve the safety of medical records, save time, improve efficiency, and improve patient safety.
Opportunities:
The healthcare industry has started relying on data to improve safety protocols, assessments, and patient outcomes. Considering research and development, public health policies, and the importance of data analytics and assessment in healthcare, I believe my dream job of a healthcare informatics specialist has immense scope in the present and future. In order to implement strategic decisions, healthcare organizations and providers make use of data-related procedures, which can be a great way for me to show my skills, knowledge, and expertise as a healthcare specialist.
Threats:
Having said about technology, the major threat that I consider to my career is the use of automated technology to store, access, and share data. Data would still be used as an effective means to assess patient outcomes and records easily; however, doing the same might not need a health information specialist anymore. As the healthcare industry becomes more developed into value-added frameworks and technology, organizations will start looking to cut costs and improve value and efficiency through automation (Islan et al. 2015).
Action Plan
Four SMART objectives
Resources Required
Risks involved
I will try and attend at least one conference on health information for organizations and providers.
Participating in such conferences will improve my knowledge and keep me updated on the relevant technologies and methods used to gather and analyze patients’ data.
It will also help me interact with medical professionals and gain more insights on how I can improve myself for my career role.
However, achieving this might be difficult considering my program course and personal schedule, but I have at least six months’ time to attend two conferences and strengthen my understanding of how health information professionals work.
The internet to search up on the best conferences related to healthcare information that I can attend within the next 6 months.
Speculating risks that need to be included in my action plan are my program course schedule and personal commitments. However, the action plan that I have prepared allows me room to cover up for anything that I’ll miss on. I have scheduled my workshops and conferences for the weekends, which makes it less probable to not make it to the events. I have maintained flexibility in my action plan so as to not miss out on anything.
I have to develop my writing, speaking, and listening skills.
As a health information specialist, I would need to keep accurate records and patient data.
Therefore, writing and speaking skills are essential for any professional who wishes to work in the medial and healthcare industry. When it comes to communicating with providers, I need to able to use and write in a language that is effective and simple to understand (Fakkert & Eenennaam 2017).
In order to sharpen my communication and writing skills, I have decided to attend at least one workshop on developing communication skills and three workshops on writing skills by the end of my program. I believe that these workshops can improve my ability to deliver complex messages and patient data requirements to providers with ease.
Another way in which I wish to address my strengths and weaknesses as a healthcare information specialist is by working for the community after completing the course.
I wish to work and provide more value to community healthcare services before I can step up to my main role. I believe that engaging in a community welfare activity will not only help me become more flexible and adaptable to different environments but also help me learn how to build strong relationships.
The personal level of interaction with patients, professionals, and providers during community welfare programs can help me build interpersonal skills to interact with providers and partners better. I wish to be an active community healthcare volunteer after completing my course next year.
Contact of healthcare professionals working for the community
I need to learn and develop my technical skills.
The potential threat of automated data might require me to be technically proficient in the future. Therefore, I will take a short course on electronic health record (EHR) systems to begin with. As I don’t have much technical knowledge or expertise in healthcare, the course on EHR that I decide to take between June and August will serve as a foundation for me to look at and pursue other technical software and methods after that.
List of courses and programs like Advanced Health Informatics or EHR training and assessment courses to develop my knowledge and technical skills of handling electronic systems for patients’ safety.
Conclusion
As a beneficial and positive change, value-added healthcare can be a turning point in the healthcare industry, where professionals shift from traditional means of care services and embrace more innovative, challenging, and integrated approaches for offering quality primary and secondary care to patients (BMJ 2019). Healthcare services have become seemingly expensive. Thus, reducing costs and maximizing efficiency in value-added strategies is what I personally wish to achieve, regardless of the firm or the position I am working in. By following my action plan, I wish to develop essential skills that can help me do my best in bringing value and offering value to patients and contribute to a healthy community. According to my objectives for pursuing my dream job as a health information specialist, gaining more knowledge of value-added healthcare and exploring more on this subject can help achieve my personal vision as a health professional.
References
Baslyman, M, Almoaber, B, Amyot, D, & Bouattane, E 2017, ‘Using Goals and Indicators for Activity-based Process Integration in Healthcare’, Procedia Computer Science, no. 113, pp.318-325.
Bretthauer, K & Savin, S 2018, ‘Introduction to the Special Issue on Patient-Centric Healthcare Management in the Age of Analytics’, Production and Operations Management, vol. 27, no. 12, pp. 2101-2102.
BMJ 2019, ‘Maximising the impact of patient reported outcome assessment for patients and society’, BMJ Online, 24 January, viewed on 12 March 2019.
Enthoven, A, Crosson, F & Shortell, S 2007, ‘Redefining Health Care’: Medical Homes Or Archipelagos To Navigate?’, Health Affairs, vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 1366-1372.
Fakkert, M & Eenennaam, F 2017, ‘Five Reasons Why Value-Based Healthcare is Beneficial’, Health Management Org, viewed 12 March 2019.
Islam, SM Riazul, Kwak, D, Kabir, MdH, Hossain, M & Kwak, K 2015, ‘The Internet of Things for Health Care: A Comprehensive Survey’, IEEE Access, vol. 3, pp. 678-708.
Noble, C, Gray, M & Johnston, L 2010, Critical Supervision for the Human Services: A Social Model to Promote Learning and Value-Based Practice. 2nd ed. p. 288.
Pessaux, P & Cherkaoui, Z 2018, ‘Value-based healthcare: a novel approach to the evaluation of patient care’, Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr., vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 125-126.
Pooler, A 2011, An introduction to evidence based practice in nursing & healthcare.
Putera, I 2017, ‘Redefining Health: Implication for Value-Based Healthcare Reform’, Cureus, vol. 9, no. 3.
Stichler, J, 2011, ‘Patient-Centered Healthcare Design’, JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, vol. 41, no. 12, pp. 503-506.
The Economist Intelligence Unit 2016, ‘Value-based Healthcare: A Global Assessment’, London.