Promoting value-based care in EDs (PROV-ED)

Value-based care is increasingly important within Health Services, including in the ED environment. Overuse of low-value care and underuse of high-value care is widespread and contributes to unnecessary costs and poor health outcomes The concept of value-based care broadly encompasses balancing the benefits of treatments provided to patients with the financial costs of the treatment. To provide efficient and safe healthcare, clinicians must consider the benefits and risks of investigations and treatments in an environment of increasing healthcare costs, and be aware of options and methods to changing care (1).

Value-based healthcare is not only about costs. The quality of care provided to patients can be enhanced with new developments in clinical care. Improving healthcare provision also reduces overcrowding and improves staff efficiency (reduced stress and cognitive load, improved morale and satisfaction), patient satisfaction, and importantly patient safety (2).

Various activities have been developed within HHSs aimed at improving efficiency and reducing use of low-value care. However, to date, limited action has occurred on a state-based level. Many initiatives are most likely scalable, however there are no clear pathways to enable dissemination. A broad strategy to affect change in clinical practice that targets frequent use, high cost and/or inappropriately used interventions in EDs is required. This same platform can also promote high quality initiatives identified at improving patient experience in our health care system. The PROV-ED Project would address this need by utilising clinical redesign methodology to roll out already proven strategies to improve efficiency across the health system.