Patients in Enigma: Quality versus Cost Crisis in Hospitals

RATIONALE There have been various studies and research in context to the quality provided by the hospital and the cost offered for the treatments. New insight related to the subject has marked cost transparency been pivotal to value-based care. This has created an ambiguity amongst the patients related to the choice of treatment facilities. According to the study and research, it is evident that there is great need to simplify the empirical perception of patients. OBJECTIVE To illustrate the proportionality between the cost transparency and service efficacy in terms of value-based healthcare. METHODOLOGY Used secondary data method to examine the relationship between the quality and need for cost transparency of health services. Studied patients’ reviews on Google and verified their authenticity by the method of Google Map Local Guide. Also approached other online review portals to observe for patient satisfaction as a tool to study quality of services conferred by various hospitals. KEY FINDINGS Studies revealed several indicators that determine quality of services patient seek from hospital namely patient waiting time, room turnaround time, staff patient interface, physician’s diagnosis, patient interaction and patient sensitivity, cleanliness, billing etc. The direct proportionality with respect to cost transparency and quality of health services delivered by the hospitals was clearly illustrated, though due to limitations with studies conducted in India and lack of primary data, precision in numerical findings could not be met. CONCLUSION Cost of services plays an imperative role for sustainable quality adherence by private hospitals, in other words, cost is an important fuelling factor that drives the quality of service being conferred upon patient by a hospital. Studies show comparative effectiveness approach by physicians and patient convenience and access by means of cost transparency are directly related to service efficacy of hospitals.