Message from AHVAP Executive Director

Taking a Stand: Why Leaders in Healthcare Value Analysis Must Champion Standards and Best Practices

Dear AHVAP Members and Partners,

In healthcare, the word “value” is frequently invoked — value-based purchasing, value-driven care, and value-focused analytics all point to the industry’s growing attention to outcomes that balance cost, quality, and patient safety. Yet, the field of healthcare value analysis itself often lacks universally recognized guidelines for defining what constitutes a “best practice.” The result can be fragmented processes, inconsistent evaluations, and missed opportunities to improve the broader healthcare ecosystem.

At its core, healthcare value analysis revolves around evaluating products, services, and technologies in a structured, evidence-based way — one that accounts not only for cost savings but also for patient safety, clinical outcomes, and the overall impact on staff and organizational workflows. As your Executive Director, I witness daily how conscientious value analysis professionals bridge gaps between finance, clinical care, supply chain, and patient safety. Despite their vital role in driving efficiency and quality, they often operate without standardized frameworks that can ensure consistent excellence across institutions.

The Need for Defined Standards

Without clear, specialty-specific standards, there is a risk of re-inventing the wheel at each facility or health system. Ad hoc processes may inadvertently omit critical steps — such as comprehensive stakeholder engagement or rigorous clinical evidence reviews — simply because there are no uniform guidelines to follow. This lack of consistent structure can lead to:

• Missed Opportunities: Innovative products or best-in-class technologies may go unnoticed if value analysis teams are not equipped with systematic vetting tools and processes.
• Inconsistent Outcomes: Some teams may excel at evaluating total cost of ownership, while others may focus heavily on clinical safety or patient satisfaction measures. Without a standard, each approach can yield vastly different conclusions.
• Unclear Accountability: Without documented best practices, there is no clear way to measure success or hold teams accountable for adhering to evidence-based, patient-centric approaches.

Defining Best Practice: The Road to Professionalization

Establishing standards for healthcare value analysis not only promotes greater uniformity but also elevates the profession by clarifying the competencies, ethics, and processes expected of all practitioners. When leaders within this specialty commit to developing and adhering to a standardized set of best practices, we achieve:

Professional Recognition: Defining “what good looks like” cements healthcare value analysis as a critical, specialized practice. As with nursing or pharmacy, recognized protocols and guidelines can lead to formal certifications, career pathways, and deeper respect from allied fields.
Improved Patient Outcomes: Standardized methods ensure consistent reviews of product safety data, clinical efficacy, and risk assessment. This consistency is crucial for maintaining patient safety and aligning product adoption with the highest evidence-based standards.
Streamlined Operations: Uniform processes help organizations benchmark their progress, reduce duplication of effort, and more effectively measure and communicate cost savings and clinical improvements.

The Leadership Imperative

Leaders in healthcare value analysis cannot wait for external forces to create these standards; we must take the initiative. This means bringing together a broad coalition — composed of frontline clinicians, supply chain experts, finance personnel, and patient safety officers — to develop guidelines that are both rigorous and adaptable. Our role as leaders also includes advocacy:

• Championing Collaboration: We must encourage open dialogue across different specialties, ensuring that all perspectives — clinical, financial, and operational — are valued in shaping these best practices.
• Mentoring Emerging Professionals: By coaching new value analysis practitioners on standardized approaches, we cultivate a culture of continuous learning and quality improvement.
• Driving Policy and Guideline Adoption: Whether through professional associations, accreditation bodies, or healthcare networks, leaders can drive the conversation about why common standards matter and how they benefit all stakeholders.

Looking Ahead

As the healthcare landscape evolves — shaped by new technologies, regulatory shifts, and patient-centered care models — the importance of evidence-based, robust value analysis only grows. By taking a firm stand now, leaders in this field can spearhead the development of cohesive best practices that define our collective excellence. Doing so not only reinforces the credibility of healthcare value analysis as a specialty but also enhances the impact we can have on patient outcomes, organizational sustainability, and healthcare innovation.

We have an unprecedented opportunity to transform our field from a loosely defined discipline into a recognized specialty, guided by clear standards that serve as the hallmark of quality. I invite all value analysis professionals, from new entrants to seasoned experts, to join me in championing the creation and adoption of these much-needed standards. Let’s take a stand — together — and ensure that healthcare value analysis remains a driving force for meaningful, lasting improvements in patient care. Stay tuned over the coming months for your opportunity to contribute your feedback to the new AHVAP Standards.

J. Hudson Garrett Jr., Ph.D., MSN, MPH, MBA, FNP-BC, IP-BC, PLNC, VA-BC, BC-MSLcert™, MSL-BC, LTC-CIP, CIC, CPPS, CAE, CAIP, CPHQ, CVAHP™, ICE-CCP, CPXP, CMRP, CDIPC, FAOM, FACDONA, FAAPM, FAPIC, FNAP, FACHE, FSHEA, FIDSA, FAHVAP
Executive Director and Executive Vice President
Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AVHAP)
Chief Credentialing Officer
AHVAP Certification Center
Certified Association Executive