Social Return on Investment: A New Approach to Understanding and Advocating for Value in Healthcare

J Nurs Adm. 2017 Dec;47(12):623-628. doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000557.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether the methodology of social return on investment (SROI) could be a way in which the value of a healthcare-related program (children's cancer camp) could be captured, evaluated, and communicated.

Background: The value of healthcare goes beyond what can be captured in financial terms; however, this is the most common type of value that is measured. The SROI methodology accounts for a broader concept of value by measuring social, environmental, and economic outcomes and uses monetary values to represent them.

Methods: The steps/stages of an SROI analysis were applied to the context of a children's camp for this article.

Results: Applying the SROI methodology to this healthcare-related program was feasible and provided insight and understanding related to the impacts of this program.

Conclusions: Because of SROI's flexibility, it is a tool that has great potential in a healthcare environment and for leaders to evaluate programmatic return on investment.

MeSH terms

  • Camping / economics*
  • Child
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Economics, Medical*
  • Female
  • Health Promotion / economics*
  • Health Resources
  • Humans
  • Investments*
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / economics*
  • Social Environment