In healthcare, value is defined as what, and which three dimensions are commonly used?

• A. Value = outcomes achieved per cost; dimensions: quality/outcomes, cost, and patient experience
• B. Value = price only
• C. Value = patient satisfaction alone
• D. Value = outcomes only

Answer: (A)

In healthcare, value is about what you get for what you spend—outcomes achieved relative to cost. This view captures not just how effective care is, but how efficiently resources are used and how patients experience the care they receive. The three dimensions commonly used to describe value are quality/outcomes (the effectiveness and safety of care, including patient-reported results), cost (resource use and overall expense), and patient experience (access, communication, and satisfaction). This framing explains why outcomes per cost is central: it ties the level of results to the resources used, while still encompassing how well the care is delivered and how the patient feels about the experience. The other options focus on a single aspect—price, patient satisfaction, or outcomes alone—without accounting for the balance among all three dimensions.