| Session Title: Is Quality Improvement In Healthcare Cost-Effective? |
| Expert Lecture Session 558 to be held in TRAVIS D on Friday, Nov 12, 10:55 AM to 11:40 AM |
| Sponsored by the Health Evaluation TIG |
| Chair(s): |
| Mary Gutmann, EnCompass LLC, mgutmann@encompassworld.com |
| Presenter(s): |
| Edward Broughton, University Research Company LLC, ebroughton@urc-chs.com |
| Abstract: Many health interventions have been shown to be cost-effective when implemented to evidence-based quality standards. However, several studies show that health care provided for much of the world’s population fails to meet such standards. Quality improvement (QI) interventions can overcome common obstacles to providing high quality care, even in situations where resources are scarce and health systems are weak. Many decisionmakers are skeptical of such interventions. Therefore, it is crucially important that an economic case can be made for QI. Using examples from US and international health care settings, this lecture discussed methods of cost-effectiveness analysis for QI programs – why they are done, how they are performed and how to interpret their results. This information is crucial to anyone interested in understanding and performing full evaluations of QI programs to make a business case for working towards improvements in the quality of health care. |