Outreach Session: Outcomes Research and Imaging (2018)-The clinical value and cost-effectiveness of diagnostic imaging

The clinical value and cost-effectiveness of diagnostic imaging

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The talk explains healthcare value as outcomes achieved per dollar spent, emphasizing that value should be measured by outcomes, not just processes or service volume. It reviews economic evaluation methods, especially cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, and ICER, noting that QALY captures both quality and quantity of life. Imaging examples show mixed results: coronary calcium scoring was not clearly cost-effective, cardiac CT often was cost-effective or cost-saving in selected patients, and cardiac MR could reduce costs while preserving outcomes. The speaker concludes that decisions should move beyond “it works” to “it benefits,” considering equity and patient priorities.

Keywords

healthcare value

cost-effectiveness

QALY

cardiac imaging

ICER