Shared decision-making (SDM) is a foundational component of patient-centered care and a key strategy for achieving the Quadruple Aim: improving population health, enhancing patient experience, reducing healthcare costs, and supporting provider well-being. Research shows that when providers explain care options and ask for and respect their patients’ values and preferences, patients are more likely to follow through with treatment and experience better health outcomes overall. Shared decision making is a powerful tool that encourages patients to collaborate with their doctor in making decisions about their care.
Despite its proven benefits, SDM remains inconsistently implemented across healthcare settings. As a payer committed to closing care gaps and advancing health equity, we recognized the opportunity to play a more active role in driving the adoption of SDM within our provider network. This session will present our organization’s multi-pronged approach to integrating SDM into care delivery, using colorectal cancer (CRC) screening as a focused use case. We convened a provider forum aimed at building awareness, educating clinicians on the principles of SDM, and discussing real-world implementation strategies.
The forum for providers enabled the sharing of challenges, learn from peers, and explore SDM tools that facilitate meaningful patient engagement. Following the forum, we partnered with several provider organizations to pilot specific SDM interventions, including the use of decision aids, electronic prompts, and workflow redesign to support conversations about CRC screening options. We chose CRC screening as a starting point given the multiple evidence-based screening options available and the importance of aligning screening decisions with patient values and preferences. To assess the effectiveness of these interventions, we conducted a large-scale member survey to evaluate whether patients recalled being informed of their CRC screening options and felt involved in the decision-making process. Responses from our members revealed critical insights into communication gaps and highlighted areas where further support was needed. These findings not only validated the importance of SDM but also helped shape our ongoing quality improvement and provider engagement strategies.
This session will share lessons from a payer-convened provider forum, vendor piloted SDM tools including the use of data and analytics platforms and tools, as well as results from member surveys. Our work continues as we embed SDM into broader population health initiatives, encourage its adoption across additional clinical areas, and align SDM practices with our goals around health equity and care gap closure. By centering patient voice and choice in care delivery, we are fostering a more human, sustainable, and effective healthcare system. This session will be valuable for clinical leaders, quality improvement professionals, health plan executives, and others interested in advancing SDM within value-based care models. Attendees will leave this session with practical insights into how payers can engage providers through education and partnership to advance decision-making initiatives that align with care gap closure and equity strategies.
