Partner Acting: Institute for Healthcare Improvement
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) has launched the Appropriate Use of Specialty Care Services initiative to test improvement strategies in two of the areas of overuse identified by the National Priorities Partnership: unwarranted diagnostic procedures and unwarranted procedures. The challenge of moving towards appropriate use lies in ensuring every patient receives appropriate, effective care and no care that does not provide benefit–the goal of the Partnership’s overuse Priority. The work is part of IHI’s Triple Aim initiative.
“Our work in this area will aim to address some important questions, such as how to better engage patients as full partners in their care, and how to deliver appropriate care for each individual,” said Donald M. Berwick, MD, president and CEO of IHI and co-chair of the Partnership. “Our goal is to provide effective and appropriate care to patients without unnecessarily taxing system resources.”
IHI is hosting an R&D Lab July 22-23, 2009, providing participants with the opportunity to discuss the tools and techniques necessary to improve the use of specialty services. Discussion points include shared decision making, physician engagement, and improved care coordination.
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