Policy & Guideline Analysis

The current situation

Governments set healthcare policies that affect millions of people and that involve billions of dollars. Their objective is not only to improve quality of care but also to better use healthcare resources. Before policies are issued, those who set them need a way to evaluate the consequences of the different options, including the anticipated benefits and costs. Because of the complexity and costs involved, it is not feasible to obtain this information through clinical trials or other empirical methods.

The Archimedes advantage

The Archimedes Model is a large-scale, well-validated simulation model that enables policy makers to test their assumptions, compare scenarios, and quantify the outcomes of policy options before implementing them. The Model delivers two key advantages:

• Archimedes spans multiple conditions in a single integrated model that uses a consistent methodology. As such, the Model enables comparisons across conditions and interventions, which is crucial for prioritizing the allocation of healthcare resources.
• Archimedes is clinically realistic, written at the level of detail at which policies such as guidelines, performance measures, care management programs, and incentive programs are written.