Leveraging the real value of laboratory medicine with the value proposition

• Published in: Clinica chimica acta Vol. 462; pp. 183 - 186
• Main Authors: Price, Christopher P., John, Andrew St, Christenson, Robert, Scharnhorst, Volker, Oellerich, Michael, Jones, Patricia, Morris, Howard A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-11-2016
• Subjects: Clinical effectiveness; Cost effectiveness; Delivery of Health Care - economics; Evidence-based laboratory medicine; Healthcare quality; Healthcare safety; Humans; Medical Laboratory Science - economics; Patient Safety - economics; Quality Improvement - economics; Value of laboratory medicine; Value proposition; Clinical effectiveness; Value of laboratory medicine; Cost effectiveness; Healthcare safety; Value proposition; Healthcare quality; Evidence-based laboratory medicine
• ISSN: 0009-8981; 1873-3492
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2016.09.006

Improving quality and patient safety, containing costs and delivering value-for-money are the key drivers of change in the delivery of healthcare and have stimulated a shift from an activity-based service to a service based on patient-outcomes. The delivery of an outcomes-based healthcare agenda requires that the real value of laboratory medicine to all stakeholders be understood, effectively defined and communicated. The value proposition of any product or service is the link between the provider and the needs of the customer describing the utility of the product or service in terms of benefit to the customer. The framework of a value proposition for laboratory medicine provides the core business case that drives key activities in the evolution and maintenance of high quality healthcare from research through to adoption and quality improvement in an established service. The framework of a value proposition for laboratory medicine is described. The content is endorsed by IFCC and WASPaLM.
•A value proposition is a statement describing the benefits of a service, to whom, and how the benefits can be delivered.•Current business models for delivery of healthcare, including laboratory medicine, are driven by activity in silos.•The value of laboratory medicine is found in other units and the benefits appreciated by other stakeholders.•The value proposition for laboratory medicine describes the benefit for clinical decisions and resources required.