Enhanced Recovery After Surgery: Economic Impact and Value

Lawrence Lee; Liane S Feldman

doi:10.1016/j.suc.2018.07.003

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery: Economic Impact and Value

Surg Clin North Am. 2018 Dec;98(6):1137-1148. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2018.07.003. Epub 2018 Aug 24.

Authors

Lawrence Lee¹, Liane S Feldman²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, McGill University Health Centre, Steinberg-Bernstein Centre for Minimally Invasive Surgery and Innovation, 1001 Decarie Boulevard, DS1-3310, Montreal, Quebec H4A 3J1, Canada. Electronic address: larry.lee@mcgill.ca.
² Division of General Surgery, McGill University Health Centre, Steinberg-Bernstein Centre for Minimally Invasive Surgery and Innovation, 1650 Cedar Avenue, L9-404, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1A4, Canada.

PMID: 30390848
DOI: 10.1016/j.suc.2018.07.003

Abstract

Value in health care is defined as the best outcome that matters to the patient at the lowest cost. Therefore, a valuable intervention is one that either results in better outcomes at the same cost, the same outcomes at lower cost, or in the best-case scenario, better outcomes at lower cost. Enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs) increase value by improving clinical outcomes without increasing costs. ERPs do not increase overall costs, even when implementation and maintenance costs are considered. More research on patient-reported outcomes and other downstream effects of ERPs is required to fully characterize their true value.

Keywords: Costs; Economic evaluation; Organizational culture; Patient-reported outcomes; Value.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Cost-Benefit Analysis
Health Care Costs*
Humans
Patient Reported Outcome Measures
Perioperative Care*
Postoperative Complications / prevention & control*
Recovery of Function*