Value-based healthcare in colorectal cancer surgery : improving quality and reducing costs

Abstract

This thesis shows that quality of colorectal cancer care is irrevocably associated

with hospital costs. Although surgical auditing is a cost and time-consuming exercise,

it has a strong potential to improve outcomes in healthcare and simultaneously reduce hospital costs. Comparing hospital performances on both quality and costs makes identification of ‘best practice’ hospitals possible. Moreover, providing combined quality-cost outcomes of frail patients or operation techniques provides valuable insights where to start quality improvement initiatives. Finally, rewarding healthcare providers based on operative risk could be a first step in developing powerful reimbursement systems. This all might catalyze the continuous improvement of value leading to a more sustainable healthcare system in the future.