By Grupo IAG Saúde, Brazil

As an International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement Knowledge Partner, Grupo IAG Saúde is proud to share what we are learning from implementing patient-centered outcomes measurement at scale across Brazil.

Since 2023, Grupo IAG Saúde has been implementing ICHOM Sets of Patient-Centered Outcome Measures as part of its broader mission to transform Brazil’s mixed public-private healthcare system through measurable, patient-centered value. Today, more than 2,560 patients are actively contributing outcomes data across 14 ICHOM Sets, including breast cancer, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, stroke, diabetes, colorectal cancer, older persons, and hip and knee osteoarthritis.

Two partner institutions are currently participating in the ICHOM Breast Cancer Learning Collaborative, with a third joining this year. At the same time, Grupo IAG Saúde’s national transparency index, IVSB (Índice Valor Saúde Brasil), was nominated for the VBHC Prize 2026. The initiative now spans 593 hospitals, 210 payers, and more than 38 million people across Brazil.

The Gap Between Knowing and Doing

One of the greatest challenges in value-based healthcare is what Grupo IAG Saúde describes as the “knowing-doing gap.” Many organizations understand the logic behind outcomes measurement and recognize the value of the ICHOM framework, yet struggle to embed it into day-to-day clinical workflows under real operational pressures.

In Brazil, this challenge is intensified by regional disparities, fragmented records infrastructure, and high clinical workloads. Rather than viewing these as barriers, Grupo IAG Saúde approaches them as design constraints that must be addressed honestly and systematically. Their experience has shown that successful implementation depends on two elements working together: the right technology and the right implementation architecture. One without the other consistently falls short.

Building a Closed-Loop Implementation Model

Grupo IAG Saúde’s approach connects four layers that are often treated separately.

Clinical Standardization Through ICHOM Sets

ICHOM Sets provide a common language for condition-specific, internationally comparable, and genuinely patient-centered measurement. By embedding outcomes collection directly into care delivery, Grupo IAG Saúde has achieved exceptionally high response rates, including 100% in Breast Cancer and more than 90% in the Older Person Set. These results have been achieved across institutions with significant variation in infrastructure, health literacy, and operational maturity.

Cost Intelligence Through DRG Brasil

Outcomes data alone tells only part of the story. Through the DRG Brasil platform, Grupo IAG Saúde integrates cost intelligence into the equation, enabling organizations to understand care costs at the episode and patient level. This allows providers and payers to evaluate value, not just quality, and supports the development of value-based contracting models.

Technology Through the BEL Platform

The BEL platform integrates PROMs collection, care coordination, real-time dashboards, automated checklists, and outcomes analytics into a single environment. Institutions with advanced digital systems can integrate through APIs, while organizations with less mature infrastructure can adopt more flexible approaches suited to their current capabilities.

Organizational Change and Leadership Alignment

Grupo IAG Saúde emphasizes that implementation is ultimately a cultural transformation, not simply a technical exercise. Their implementation framework prioritizes senior leadership alignment from the outset, recognizing that the transition from volume-based to value-based care cannot be delegated to a single department.

Three Lessons for Organizations Implementing VBHC

Based on its implementation experience, Grupo IAG Saúde highlights three principles for organizations looking to scale value-based healthcare initiatives.

Use Data Early

Organizations should not wait for perfect longitudinal datasets before acting on insights. Early trends help spark clinical conversations, build engagement, and create momentum for sustained implementation.

Close the Value Equation

Outcomes without cost data provide an incomplete picture. Organizations that want to lead in bundled payments, shared savings, and performance-based models must be able to demonstrate value in both clinical and economic terms.

Design Around Existing Teams

The most sustainable implementations do not rely on large increases in staffing. Instead, they integrate outcomes measurement into existing workflows, redistribute responsibilities where needed, and use data to improve care delivery within current operational structures.

Looking Ahead to Montréal

Grupo IAG Saúde’s next phase of work focuses on developing integrated care pathways that combine ICHOM Sets, DRG cost data, and AI-assisted clinical coding to create a comprehensive picture of value delivered at population scale.

The team will be attending the this December and looks forward to connecting with organizations that are implementing outcomes measurement in complex and resource-variable environments.

To learn more about Grupo IAG Saúde and its work in value-based healthcare, visit Grupo IAG Saúde.