Insights on value-based healthcare implementation from Dutch heart care

ABSTRACT

Value-based healthcare has been introduced in 2006. Ten years later, this concept is adopted by a growing number of healthcare organizations. However, little is known about the practical implementation of value-based healthcare within hospitals. While working on the implementation of value-based healthcare in Dutch heart care, physicians are confronted with three main challenges that still need to be addressed to make value-based healthcare successful. First, it will require a shift in our thinking to actually use outcomes as drivers for quality improvement instead of as end points in scientific studies. Secondly, it will require tools for linking outcomes to quality of care processes enabling quicker and continuous improvement cycles. Finally, platforms are needed where benchmarking on outcomes is connected to an open learning and sharing environment where physicians can discuss good care delivery practices.

KEYWORDS:

• Value-based healthcare
• quality management
• benchmarking
• cardiovascular diseases
• measurement of quality

Acknowledgments

This publication has been made possible by the cooperation with the cardiologists, thoracic surgeons, data managers and project leaders of the participating heart centers.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

P.B.(Paul) van der Nat (PhD) is senior advisor to the board of directors at St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.

D.(Dennis) van Veghel (Msc) is manager of the cooperation of cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons of Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands and director-board member at the Netherlands Heart Registry (NHR).

E (Edgar) Daeter is cardiothoracic surgeon in the heart center of St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands and board member at the Netherlands Heart Registry (NHR).

Prof. H. J.(Harry) Crijns is head of the department of cardiology at Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

J.(Jacques) Koolen (PhD) worked as cardiologist until 2016 at the heart center of Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

S.(Saskia) Houterman (PhD) is epidemiologist at the at the department of Education & Research at Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands and epidemiologist at the Netherlands Heart Registry (NHR).

M. A.(Mohammed) Soliman (PhD) is cardiothoracic surgeon at the R&D department of the heart center of Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

Prof. B. A.(Bas) de Mol (PhD) is head of the department of cardiothoracic surgery at the heart center of the Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands and professor at the Technical University Eindhoven.