Applying Decision Analysis to Program Management and Leadership Issues at the US Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has long been a leader in developing and applying safe patient handling methods and equipment to reduce caregiver injuries and patient complications. Following a very successful initial program, the VHA faced the challenges of determining if additional efforts were needed and, if so, what form they should take, what it would cost, and the benefits to justify additional investment. By applying Decision Analysis, the VHA was able to create a detailed and compelling new program recommendation and justify the cost. The potential benefits are on the order of $2 billion per year, which constitute a 4% reduction in the approximately $50 billion annual expenditures at the VHA.