PhD defence Stijn Joppe Schretlen
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. M.J. Jacobs, Prof. Dr. G.G. van Merode
Co-supervisor: Dr. H.R. Zandbergen
Keywords: Value-based healthcare, Process improvement, Patient outcomes, Healthcare capacity
"Operationalizing Value in Hospital Care: A data-driven roadmap from strategy to practice"
How can hospital care remain accessible and affordable while achieving good patient outcomes? This dissertation by Stijn Schretlen examines how process improvement and smarter use of data can contribute.
Eight studies covering areas such as heart surgery, heart failure treatment and low back pain indicate potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs and free up healthcare capacity. The improvements studied were associated with fewer cancelled operations, shorter waiting times and fewer unnecessary hospital referrals. A redesigned heart failure care pathway was also associated with fewer deaths and hospital admissions and lower costs.
Reliable data help care teams identify problems, target improvements and evaluate results. Lasting improvement also requires clear working procedures, shared professional responsibility and supportive financial arrangements.
The dissertation introduces the Value Improvement Roadmap, a framework connecting data, insights, action and continuous learning. It offers guidance for making better use of available staff and resources.
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