Access to healthcare services is increasingly recognized as a fundamental determinant of quality and equity within value-based healthcare models. While value-based approaches emphasize optimizing outcomes relative to cost, insufficient attention has often been paid to how timely and equitable access shapes those outcomes. To address this gap, Chen (2025) conducted a comprehensive systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published between January 2013 and January 2023, synthesizing evidence on the multifaceted benefits of healthcare access.
Employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) framework, the review identified 61 original studies that met predefined inclusion criteria relating to patient-centric access strategies. Data extraction focused on study design, methodological rigor, and outcome measures, followed by an interpretive synthesis to distill core thematic domains. This rigorous methodology ensured that findings were drawn from a diverse range of clinical contexts and research designs.
Analysis revealed five principal themes through which enhanced access exerts positive effects. First, improved access correlates with better clinical health outcomes, including reduced morbidity and mortality. Second, patients report higher satisfaction and more positive care experiences when barriers to scheduling, transportation, and affordability are minimized. Third, operational efficiency gains—such as reduced emergency department utilization and shorter hospital stays—stem directly from proactive access management. Fourth, cost containment is achieved through earlier intervention and prevention of avoidable complications. Finally, equitable access emerges as critical for addressing disparities across socioeconomic and demographic groups.
The implications of these findings are far-reaching. Healthcare organizations and policymakers should prioritize interventions that lower systemic barriers—such as expanding telehealth, optimizing referral pathways, and implementing sliding-scale payment models—to maximize the value-based paradigm. Future research should evaluate the comparative effectiveness of specific access-enhancement strategies and explore their integration within emerging payment and accountability frameworks. By foregrounding access as a central pillar of value-based care, stakeholders can more effectively align quality improvement efforts with the goal of achieving equitable, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare delivery.
Reference
Chen, A. M. (2025). Why access matters in value-based healthcare: A systematic review. Journal for Healthcare Quality, 47(2), e0471. https://doi.org/10.1097/JHQ.0000000000000471
