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By: Salvador F. Rovira Rodríguez, Esq. LLM
Value Based Healthcare (VBHC) is a transformative approach that prioritizes patient outcomes relative to the cost of healthcare delivery. In recent years, its influence on the care of elderly patients has been particularly significant. VBHC has promoted better health outcomes while also effectively managing costs. As the world’s population ages, understanding how VBHC impacts services for older patients has become increasingly crucial.
In this new service contracting model, providers or centers focused on VBHC are compensated based on the results of the treatments and therefore the impact on the patient's health instead of the volume of services offered. Its main objective is to encourage providers to focus on providing a more effective and efficient service that is aligned with the real and immediate needs of patients. For older patients, who often have multiple chronic conditions and complex health care needs, this model promises a more coordinated, patient-centered approach.
One of the most significant impacts of VBHC on senior care is the emphasis on efforts to improve quality of life and experience while receiving treatment. This, contrary to traditional models that often focus on acute treatment without, at times, considering the long-term well-being of the patient. VBHC encourages providers to consider how treatments can impact and improve the daily life, mobility, and independence of older patients. Programs may include comprehensive geriatric assessments, personalized care plans, and regular follow-ups, all designed to maintain or improve functional status and well-being.
Additionally, under VBHC, there is an emphasis on preventive services and early intervention. These are key to managing health problems in older populations. This may include more frequent screenings, preventative health measures, and early treatment of conditions before they require more intensive and costly interventions. Preventative strategies not only improve patients' health, but are also cost-effective in the long term, reducing the need for emergency care and invasive procedures.
Despite its benefits, implementing VBHC in aged care comes with challenges. These include the need for significant investment in technology and training, the complexity of measuring outcomes in a population with multiple co-occurring conditions, and the ethical considerations of rationing care based on cost-effectiveness. Additionally, involving older patients and their families in a shared decision-making process is crucial, but can be complex due to different levels of knowledge on health issues.
