Interest in the field of health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) has grown exponentially as governments and other payers grapple with how to provide the best possible health outcomes at affordable costs. At ISPOR, we believe that every healthcare decision should be informed by the best scientific research derived from rigorous, proven methodologies. Toward that goal, the Society’s mission is to promote HEOR excellence to improve decision making for health globally.
What Is HEOR?
In today's world, healthcare decision makers across the globe are often faced with the need to select therapeutic "interventions" from multiple treatment options, including biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and healthcare services. However, the benefits and costs of these interventions can range dramatically and the benefits can be economic, clinical, both, or may include hard to measure costs or benefits the patient experiences directly. Health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) can help healthcare decision makers—including clinicians, governments, payers, health ministries, patients, and more—to adequately compare and choose among the available options.
ISPOR has defined the following HEOR topics in its taxonomy that are the key areas of focus for the organization and its membership:
Taxonomy
- Clinical Outcomes
- Epidemiology and Public Health
- Economic Evaluation
- Health Policy and Regulatory
- Health Technology Assessment
- Health Service Delivery and Process of Care
- Medical Technologies
- Patient-Centered Research
- Real-World Data and Information Systems
- Specialized Treatment Areas
- Specific Diseases and Conditions
- Study Approaches
- Methodological and Statistical Research
- Organizational Practices
ISPOR Science Strategy
The objective of the ISPOR Science Strategy is to identify a targeted set of topical “themes” that the Society believes will have the greatest
impact on both the field of HEOR and global healthcare. ISPOR believes that this Science Strategy, when well executed, will help meet the evolving needs of healthcare decision making. The Science Strategy themes include: Real-World Evidence | Economic Evaluation Methods | Patient-Centered Research | Special Populations and Technologies | HTA in Healthcare Decision Making | Health Economics, Access, and Policy | Low- and Middle-Income Countries | Resilient Learning Healthcare Systems.
HEOR Trends
As HEOR plays an ever-greater role in helping to inform healthcare decisions, ISPOR leveraged the thought leadership of its member experts to provide direction on where the field is heading in what is a rapidly changing healthcare marketplace. The new ISPOR 2020 Top 10 HEOR Trends is the second annual publication for this initiative.
Health Technology Assessment
Health technology assessment (HTA) is an evidence-based, multidisciplinary process intended to support healthcare decision making by assessing properties and effects of one or more new or existing health technologies in comparison with a current standard. ISPOR's Health Technology Assessment Central is a comprehensive repository of resources and tools that support HTA and helps bridge the gap between HEOR and other disciplines that inform HTA and healthcare decisions.
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