By Xanthia Lam, MPH (May 2025), Patient Engagement Intern at the Center
The Center for Innovation & Value Research (Center) is a non-profit research organization whose mission is to advance the science, use, and practice of Patient-Centered Health Technology Assessment to support decisions that make healthcare more meaningful and equitable. However, as Health Technology Assessment is a niche topic and field, it can be challenging to convey why it is important to the Center’s mission, what it means for patients, and why patient centricity is one of the organization’s core principles.
The Center defines Health Technology Assessment (HTA) as an analysis of the clinical and economic value of a particular healthcare intervention using various factors such as cost, safety, and efficacy. Simply put, HTA is the process used to determine the value of a medical technology. Medical or health technology refers to treatment options including, but not limited to, medications, interventions, and therapies. Value, in this case, refers to health outcomes in relation to the cost to get those outcomes compared to the current standards of care. HTA is used to determine if an insurance company, also referred to as a payer, deems a health technology valuable enough to put into the healthcare system or make available to those they insure.
Given that HTA is evaluated by researchers and payers, it has often left out patient values and perspectives from evaluations and final decision-making. This means that patients who would use the technology have no say in the choices available to them, hindering a patient’s ability to make the right choice for themself.
From a patient perspective, having autonomy and being listened to on your own healthcare journey is important. Respecting patient values and perspectives in the healthcare space is integral for health equity. This is why the Center’s mission states Patient-Centered Health Technology Assessment and why the Center aims to incorporate patient perspectives from the beginning of the HTA process.
You know your body the best. This statement rings true, especially when it comes to being a patient and experiencing discomfort. Doctors cannot feel your pain, they can only analyze the situation and offer their professional advice and resources to address the issue. In the healthcare space, there is often asymmetric knowledge in which a doctor will know how to examine the issue and look into the science behind what you experience. However, you as a patient are experiencing the issue and may have limited options available or accessible to help you address your pain. This creates a huge disconnect. To bridge this gap, the integration of patient experiences into the health leadership and research space is required.
Patient-Centered HTA means creating the healthcare space patients want. HTA becomes more personal and effective when it considers the populations and communities that health technology will serve. HTA is valuable and important for patients to understand as it is an evaluation tool that measures the value of the technology that they will be using. Understanding HTA enables patients to get involved and add their own perspectives and criteria for value, creating a more equitable healthcare space and more suitable choices available for patient use.
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Xanthia Lam is a dedicated public health professional pursuing her Master of Public Health at Columbia University, with an anticipated graduation in May 2025. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science from the University of California, Berkeley, which she earned in 2023. Xanthia’s passion for advancing health equity stems from her lived experiences as a child and caretaker of disabled immigrants. Xanthia is committed to using her interdisciplinary background to promote community health and well-being.