Impact of Care Delivery Model and Staffing on Cost

The delivery of health care services is a complex and costly operation. Numerous factors contribute to the cost of providing care, including the type of care delivery model used and the mix of staff who provide care. A recent study by the Commonwealth Fund compared the cost of care delivered under three models—staff-model HMOs, group practices, and independent practices—and found that differences in cost were largely due to variations in staffing costs. The authors conclude that efforts to contain costs must take into account both the care delivery model and the mix of staff who provide care.

Care delivery model

The care delivery model is the way in which care is organized and delivered. It includes the types of health care providers involved, the way they are arranged (in terms of team-based care, for example), how they communicate with each other, and how they coordinate care. The staffing model is the way in which staff are deployed to deliver care. It includes the mix of staff (e.g., physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc.), their skill level, their experience, and how they are scheduled to work.

The impact of the care delivery model and staffing on cost has been studied extensively. The evidence shows that a well-designed care delivery model can improve quality and efficiency while reducing costs. For example, one study found that a nurse-led primary care team was associated with lower total medical costs compared to a traditional primary care team (by $913 per patient per year). Other studies have found that team-based models of care can improve communication and coordination among providers, leading to better quality of care and higher patient satisfaction.

One important factor in designing an effective care delivery model is ensuring that there is adequate staffing. Studies have shown that understaffing can lead to poorer quality of care, increased medical errors, and higher mortality rates. Conversely, having too much staff can also be wasteful and lead to higher costs. Thus, it is important to strike a balance when designing a staffing plan for a particular care delivery model.

Staffing

Care delivery models and staffing can have a significant impact on the cost of care. The type of care delivery model, the number of staff, and the mix of clinical and non-clinical staff can all affect the cost of care.

For example, a traditional fee-for-service model with a high number of staff may be more expensive than a newer model with a smaller number of staff. Similarly, a care delivery model that relies heavily on nurse practitioners or physician assistants may be less expensive than one that relies solely on physicians.

The Impact of Care Delivery Model and Staffing on Cost blog article will explore these factors in greater detail and provide readers with insights into how they can lower the cost of care for their loved ones.

Cost

The cost of healthcare is a major concern for patients, families, employers, and payers. In the United States, healthcare spending totaled $3.5 trillion in 2017, and is projected to grow to $5.7 trillion by 2026.1

There are many factors that contribute to the high cost of healthcare, but one of the most important is the care delivery model. The care delivery model is the way in which care is organized and delivered to patients. It includes everything from how medical appointments are scheduled to how treatments are administered.

One type of care delivery model is called fee-for-service (FFS). Under this model, doctors and other providers are paid for each service they provide, regardless of whether or not the patient spends time in the hospital or has any complications. This type of care delivery often leads to overuse of services because providers have an incentive to do more rather than less.

Another type of care delivery model is called value-based care (VBC). Under this model, providers are reimbursed based on the quality and outcomes of their care, rather than the number of services they provide. This type of care delivery incentivizes providers to focus on delivering high-quality, efficient care that results in better health outcomes for patients.

So what does all this mean for cost? Studies have shown that VBC can lead to significant reductions in healthcare spending without compromising quality or access to care. 

Impact of care delivery model and staffing on cost

The delivery of health care services is evolving. The traditional model of care, in which patients are seen by a physician in an office setting, is being replaced by a more collaborative model of care that includes a team of health care providers working together to provide comprehensive care to patients. This new model of care delivery is more cost-effective than the traditional model and has the potential to improve the quality of patient care.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that the use of a team-based care delivery model was associated with lower health care costs. The study compared the cost of care for two groups of patients: those who received care from a traditional primary care physician (PCP) and those who received care from a team-based primary care practice (TBP). The researchers found that the total cost of health care for patients in the TBP group was $1,800 less than for patients in the PCP group.

The difference in cost was due to lower rates of hospitalization and emergency department visits among patients in the TBP group. The TBP group also had higher rates of preventive care visits and screenings. These findings suggest that team-based primary care practices are more effective at preventing serious health problems, which can lead to lower health care costs.