This week’s graphic highlights Vizient Vulnerability Index (VVI) and procedure utilization data to show how utilization differs when certain socioeconomic factors are considered. Patients with higher VVI scores used less care across a variety of scheduled procedures. The differences in utilization between high and low VVIs and between high and average VVIs were particularly stark, 37% and 27% respectively for surgical valve procedures. Patients with higher VVI scores (i.e., those who were more vulnerable) had worse care outcomes. For transcatheter valve procedures and surgical valve procedures, patients with high VVI scores had a longer average length of stay and higher inpatient mortality rates. Addressing social determinants of health is not only good for health access but can also be a part of a well-rounded performance improvement strategy.
