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Application of evidence-based management to chronic disease healthcare: a framework

Saligrama Agnihothri (School of Management, Binghamton University (SUNY), Binghamton, New York, USA)
Raghav Agnihothri (Independent Researcher, New York, New York, USA)

Management Decision

ISSN: 0025-1747

Article publication date: 1 July 2018

Issue publication date: 24 September 2018

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for the application of evidence-based management to chronic disease healthcare.

Design/methodology/approach

Chronic healthcare is specially characterized by recursive patient-physician interactions in which evidence-based medicine (EBM) is applied. However, implementing evidence-based solutions to improve healthcare quality requires managers to effect changes in many different areas: organizational structure, procedures, technology and in physician/provider behaviors. To complicate matters further, they must achieve these changes using the tools of resource allocation or incentives. The literature contains many systematic reviews evaluating the question of physician and patient behavior under various types and structures of incentives. Similarly, systematic reviews have also been done regarding specific changes to the healthcare process and their effectiveness in improving patient outcomes. Yet, these reviews uniformly lament a lack of appropriate data from well-organized studies on the question of “Why?” solutions may work in one instance while not in another. The authors present a new theoretical framework that aids in answering this question.

Findings

This paper presents a new theoretical framework (Influence Model of Chronic Healthcare) that identifies: the critical areas in which managers can effect changes that improve patient outcomes; the influence these areas can have on each other, as well as on patient and physician behavior; and the mechanisms by which these influences are exerted. For each, the authors draw upon, and present the evidence in the literature. Ultimately, the authors recognize that this is a complex question that has not yet been fully researched. The contribution of this model is twofold: first, the authors hope to focus future research efforts, and second, provide a useful heuristic to managers who must make decisions with only the lesser-quality evidence the literature contains today.

Originality/value

This model can be used by managers as a heuristic either ex ante or ex post to determine the effectiveness of their decisions and strategies in improving healthcare quality. In addition, it can be used to analyze why actions or decisions taken achieved a given outcome, and how best to proceed to effect further improvements on patient outcomes. Last, the model serves to focus attention on specific questions for further research.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr R.A. Ramanujan, Diabetic Care Associates, Binghamton, NY, for invaluable discussions on his practice of patient-centered care for chronic diseases. The authors thank the reviewers and special issue editors for their valuable comments that improved the paper significantly.

Citation

Agnihothri, S. and Agnihothri, R. (2018), "Application of evidence-based management to chronic disease healthcare: a framework", Management Decision, Vol. 56 No. 10, pp. 2125-2147. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-10-2017-1010

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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