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SPANNING THREE DECADES OF VALUE MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP

May 30, 2002

HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT

 An Emerging Sphere of Influence for

 Supply/Value Chain Management Professionals

 Robert T. Yokl, President, The HCP Group, Ltd. 

Healthcare organizations throughout the U.S. and the world are embracing the concept of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) according to the British Columbia Health Research (BCHRE), and are applying rigorous, systematic methods of scientific inquiry to the evaluation and use of new or existing healthcare technologies (procedures, drugs, tests, therapies and devices).  Most healthcare organizations primary concern today regarding HTA is obtaining the best price and insuring that the technology is safe for their patients.  Less emphasis is placed on the question, does the technology work and if so, how does it compare with alternatives available in the marketplace? 

A case in point, two years ago hospitals across the country spent millions of dollars on intracoronary beta radiation devices for in-stent restenosis (unclogging cardiovascular stents that occlude six to nine months after insertion). Now it has become quite clear from evidenced-based studies performed by Hayes, Inc. and others that drug-eluting stents and intravascular sonotherapy, not beta radiation devices appear to be emerging as the technology of choice for in-stent restenosis.  How could the decision be made to spend millions on beta radiation devices when in just two years these decisions appear to be questionable and very costly?

Evidenced-Based Medicine vs. Expert Opinions or Beliefs

Most healthcare organizations don’t make use of evidence-based or value justification in making decisions about new or emerging technologies, but instead base their decisions on the expert opinions or beliefs of their clinicians who think they know what they are talking about. Unfortunately, opinions or beliefs that aren’t backed up with solid scientific data to support or refute a particular course of action are little more than a good guess or judgment.  This decision making process isn’t good enough in these times of shrinking healthcare resources; however, if healthcare organizations combine clinical expertise with solid scientific data focused on predictable outcomes, then healthcare organizations can make informed technology decisions that will improve their quality of care, outcomes and cost.

An Emerging Sphere of Influence for MMs

Material managers have always been involved on the fringes of their healthcare organizations’ health technology assessment decisions to employ new or emerging procedures, drugs, tests or therapies, because supplies and equipment were required to be purchased to provide these new modalities. Nonetheless, in too many situations clinicians decided what to buy, from whom to buy and for how much, not enabling the MM to truly utilize his professional skills and expertise in the HTA process.

Over the last 10 years this trend has reversed to include the MM in sourcing, bidding and negotiating the final package required by clinicians for their new modalities, but this is the tail wagging the dog.  Now is the time for MMs to emerge as a sphere of influence in promoting evidence-based or value justifications on all new and emerging healthcare technologies and to conscientiously use current best evidence in making decisions about the new and emerging technologies for improving your quality of care, outcomes and cost.

BCHRF research tells us that, “(MMs and other) Healthcare professionals…can benefit from using Internet and other HTA resources as they design and implement their own local HTA procedures. Timely use of HTA information is needed for both evidence-based medicine and evidence-based management. Improving their HTA skills, and adopting a systematic approach to HTA in their organizations, can help managers sift and appraise conflicting claims, and consistently make the right technology decisions for their particular setting.”

Robert T. Yokl, President, The HCP Group, Ltd., has over 35 years of experience as a consultant and manager in the field of Supply/Value Chain Management and is one of the country's leading healthcare experts in value analysis, value engineering and materials management. He is the developer and program leader of the award winning Certified Value Analysis Practitioner Training Program™. Mr. Yokl is also the developer of the healthcare industry's leading ValueNetCentral™ Value Analysis Software. Over the past two decades he has trained thousands of healthcare managers in his patented Strategic Value Analysis™ and Team-Based Project Management™ processes and has assisted scores of organizations in developing their own value management programs. He has published six books, videos and audios on supply/value chain management. His latest book being, “ Strategic Value Analysis™: The #1 Smart Strategy for Taking Cost Out of a Healthcare Organizations’ Supply/Value Chain”.