Developing a high value care programme from the bottom up: a programme of faculty-resident improvement projects targeting harmful or unnecessary care

Background In the USA, healthcare costs are far greater than those in any other industrialised country.1 Currently, they comprise almost 18% of the gross domestic product and 30% of government expenditures.2 US healthcare costs encroach on all other areas of spending public and private. Cost drivers are multifactorial but up to 30% of Medicare spending is potentially avoidable without worsening health outcomes3 4 with overuse and misuse of tests and treatments accounting for approximately 10%. Physicians have a responsibility to ensure that the diagnostic tests and treatments they order are safe, effective and provide value.5 6 Hence, they can lead the effort to preserve scarce resources while promoting quality, reducing harm and controlling cost.7 Initial calls for action from the medical profession came following an Institute of Medicine report describing the need to reduce...

Source: BMJ Quality and Safety - October 18, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Stinnett-Donnelly, J. M., Stevens, P. G., Hood, V. L. Tags: Quality improvement reports Source Type: research