PhD defence R.C.A. (Reinier) van Linschoten

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation: 

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic condition that places a heavy burden on patients and healthcare systems worldwide. Rising prevalence, high treatment costs, and variability in outcomes make IBD a pressing healthcare challenge.

This thesis explores how value-based healthcare (VBHC) principles can improve the (cost-)effectiveness of IBD care. VBHC focuses on achieving outcomes that matter most to patients while optimizing the use of resources. The research examines treatment variation across hospitals, the impact of advanced therapies, and cost-effective interventions such as extending medication intervals for stable patients.

Key findings include the development of tools to assess and compare patient outcomes across hospitals, prediction models to identify successful treatment strategies, and evidence supporting personalized care pathways. These insights highlight the potential of VBHC to reduce costs, minimize treatment variation, and improve patients’ quality of life.

The research also addresses challenges like data collection and the complexity of outcome measurement, emphasizing the need for standardized approaches to assess care quality.

This work provides healthcare providers with actionable strategies to optimize care delivery, ensuring that IBD treatment becomes more sustainable, affordable, and patient-centered. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of how VBHC can improve healthcare systems.