Two issues of emerging importance are being addressed in the literature: caring for patients with obesity and the concept of delivering value-based care. Value-based care does not mean providing the cheapest care; “value” places importance on quality as well as cost. In this Update, we present 3 practices that the evidence says will deliver value:
- endometrial biopsy in all obese women. Although performing more endometrial biopsies in younger women with a body mass index (BMI) in the obese range will not be less expensive initially, the procedure’s value likely will be in early diagnosis, which hopefully will translate to eventual health care system savings.
- use of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) in obese patients experiencing abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). This practice appears to add value in the context of AUB.
- performance of routine diagnostic hysteroscopy in the office setting. We should reconsider our current habits and traditions of performing routine diagnostic hysteroscopy in the operating room (OR) as we move toward providing value-based care.
Read about obesity as a risk factor for endometrial hyperplasia