THE LAPAROSCOPIC SURGICAL VALUE PACKAGE AND HOW SURGEONS CAN INFLUENCE COSTS

The value of our procedures is directly related to quality but only in versely proportional to costs. As surgeons, we can influence the major ity of operating room costs for our procedures if the principles of qu ality (outcome) assessment and cost analysis are understood. If costs are decreased directly by administrators then quality will be unassess ed and will decline. Improving quality will always result in decreasin g costs if both quality and costs are simultaneously assessed. This id ea results in a surgical value package that contributes three items to a procedure: (1) correct utilization, (2) short- and long-term result s within an established norm, and (3) all of these for a reasonable co st. If surgeons become involved with this philosophy, then value will be ensured and the profits of health care can be redirected back into medicine.