Practical Strategies to Assess Value in Health Care

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

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2. Introduction

   • Craig A. Solid

   Pages 1-14

3. Understanding the Challenges of Assessing the Value of Health Care

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 15-15

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   2. Challenge 1: Complexity

      • Craig A. Solid

      Pages 17-28

   3. Challenge 2: Continuity

      • Craig A. Solid

      Pages 29-41

   4. Challenge 3: Inconsistency

      • Craig A. Solid

      Pages 43-51

4. A Primer on Fundamental Concepts and Current Techniques Used to Measure Value in Health Care

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 53-53

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   2. Key Economic Concepts and Their Implications

      • Craig A. Solid

      Pages 55-70

   3. Current Methods of Value Assessments

      • Craig A. Solid

      Pages 71-82

5. Practical and Human Considerations: A Discussion of the Real-World Motivations and Requirements That Should Be Contemplated When Exploring Value

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 83-83

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   2. Practical and Human Considerations

      • Craig A. Solid

      Pages 85-98

6. How to Design and Perform a Value Assessment

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 99-99

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   2. The Value Assessment Framework

      • Craig A. Solid

      Pages 101-139

   3. Examples and Practical Suggestions

      • Craig A. Solid

      Pages 141-157

7. Back Matter

   Pages 159-163

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These days, the idea of “value” is at the center of many activities and decisions in health care in the United States. While there exist books that detail the technical steps for how to carry out a specific type of value assessment, such as cost-effectiveness or return on investment, there are few that attempt to teach healthcare professionals how to think about value. This book provides a deeper understanding of value as a concept as well as an endeavor (as in, to determine or uncover the value of care) within the healthcare industry by illustrating the different components of value that should guide decision-making processes for policy, infrastructure, and quality improvement. Through an exploration of theories of economics and implementation science, as well as practical suggestions for real-world applications, this text provides a foundation for the long and complicated “value” journey the US has bet its entire healthcare system on. 


In the US, policy to promote what is referred to as “value-based care” is here to stay. As we move forward within this construct, we need to move beyond the over-simplified definition of value as “quality per dollar spent” to a more functional framework for how to think about value that can adapt to different circumstances and points of view. Only then will it be possible to compare value across settings, conditions, and activities.


The book consists of 9 chapters organized in four sections:

• Part I: Understanding the Challenges of Assessing the Value of Health Care  
• Part II: A Primer on Fundamental Concepts and Current Techniques Used to Measure Value in Health Care  
• Part III: A Discussion of the Real-world Motivations and Requirements that Should be Contemplated when Exploring Value
• Part IV: How to Design and Perform a Value Assessment 

Practical Strategies to Assess Value in Health Care is an essential resource for healthcare professionals at all levels and points of care who are interested in understanding how best to assess and interpret value for a particular situation including providers, administrators, payers, insurers, health plans, and policy-makers.

• assessing the value of health care
• what is health care worth
• high-value care
• measuring value-based care
• cost-benefit analysis in health care
• cost-effectiveness analysis in health care
• return on investment in health care
• ROI in health care
• economic efficiency health care
• value of care delivery
• value of population health
• health services research

• Owner and Principal, Solid Research Group, LLC, SAINT PAUL, USA

  Craig A. Solid

Craig A. Solid, PhD is an independent consultant who is the owner and principal of Solid Research Group, LLC. He helps a variety of organizations, including device and digital health companies, demonstrate and communicate the value of their product, device, process, or solution. He has more than 22 years of experience in health care and has co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed manuscripts and multiple books. He regularly gives seminars and guest lectures on value in health care and value assessments. His most recent book, Return on Investment for Healthcare Quality Improvement, is available from Springer (2020). Dr. Solid lives in St. Paul, Minnesota with his wife and three children.