Table 1 Proposed strategies to consider costs and the concept of value for money when caring for patients
Proposed strategy | Example |
|---|---|
Continuing medical education should educate clinicians on how to incorporate cost and “value for money” in clinical practice, particularly for management of common clinical conditions | Educating clinicians to promote home dialysis options, given the cost savings and equal or better outcomes for patients that are eligible |
Emphasize that considering treatment costs is particularly important in the face of clinical uncertainty | Routine management of abnormalities of mineral metabolism with expensive medications with an incomplete evidence base such as non-calcium based phosphate binders and cinacalcet |
Consider the impact on health care costs when developing clinical practice guidelines | During the development of the timing of dialysis initiation guidelines by the Canadian Society of Nephrology [7], resource use was incorporated as a secondary outcome |
Ensure that clinician leaders are engaged when developing local health policies that incorporate costs within renal programs | Developing clinical practice guidelines to increase the use of home therapies |
Support knowledge dissemination activities related to existing clinical practice guidelines |