Tools you can use to improve value in healthcare

​Improving value in healthcare can involve applying these principles in your usual business practices. Below are some tools that may help you to design and deliver services that provide better value care.

We are also working to develop new resources and implement new tools or processes that overcome some of the barriers to delivering better value. NSW Health staff can visit the Value@NSWHealth SharePoint site to get the latest information on the development of these tools.

Measuring value

Measuring value is essential to understand the needs of the health system and the benefits being delivered. It helps us make evidence-informed decisions on the impact of care and supports a more holistic view of that care. It enables us to improve how we deliver healthcare, so that resources are used to deliver services that align with the outcomes and experiences that matter most.

The NSW Health Guide to Measuring Value provides an introduction to measuring value in NSW Health. It can help you understand, measure and improve value in the delivery of healthcare at the system, district, facility or service level.

Patient reported measures

Patient reported measures (PRMs) are surveys that help us to understand what matters most to patients. They also help us to find out if the care we deliver supports the outcomes and experiences that patients expect.

There are two types of PRMs:

• Patient reported experience measures (PREMs) capture patients' experiences of their healthcare and services.
• Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) capture patients' views on how their illness or care has impacted their overall health and wellbeing.

NSW Health collects PROMs using a platform called HOPE (Health Outcomes and Patient Experience) . HOPE allows patients and their carers to log in using a personal device and provide feedback on their experiences and outcomes. The system also allows patients and carers to access information uploaded by their healthcare provider about their health condition or relevant services.

PREMs are collected through a range of surveys including local rapid collections as well as statewide mechanisms like the Patient Survey Program.

More information

• ACI patient reported measures website

Value based healthcare research priorities

Research is one of the enablers that support value based healthcare in NSW Health. Advances in research and technology are helping the NSW health system to find new ways to improve outcomes and experiences.

System priorities for value based healthcare research: guide for researchers

The document System priorities for value based healthcare research provides information for researchers seeking partnership or involvement from NSW Health on value based healthcare research projects.

Researchers can use this guide to:

• consider the system priorities when designing value based healthcare research projects or submitting grant proposals to other funders
• reference the guideline in applications for funding such as through NHMRC and for Translational Research Grants to show alignment with NSW Health priorities
• seek partnerships with NSW Health for research focusing on one of the system priorities. All partnership proposals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The guide supports a more equitable, transparent and sustainable approach to create partnerships in value based healthcare research.

More information

• Contact the team to discuss a potential partnership with NSW Health.
• Visit the Office of Health and Medical Research website to learn more about research grants and funding, and relevant policies and guidelines.
• More guidance on publishing value based healthcare research is available to NSW Health staff on the Value@NSWHealth SharePoint site.