Perspectives
by Jenna Ogilvie | Jul 10, 2013 | Discussion Paper, Perspectives
Although the U.S. health system excels in several areas, its overall performance remains uneven in terms of safety, quality, value, and the health outcomes achieved. One important lever to address these performance gaps is the use of structured, evidence-based...
by Laura DeStefano | Jun 28, 2013 | Commentary, Perspectives
As discussed by Christine Cassel of the American Board of Internal Medicine in an Institute of Medicine (IOM) commentary on June 14, 2013, the Choosing Wisely campaign unites more than 25 medical specialty societies, each agreeing to identify “Five Things Physicians...
by Jenna Ogilvie | Jun 25, 2013 | Discussion Paper, Perspectives
Introduction Good health is important—for our work, our play, and our everyday lives. There are many things we can do to maintain good health. We can exercise, eat healthy foods, and not smoke. But sometimes we need medical care to help keep us from getting sick or...
by Laura DeStefano | Jun 21, 2013 | Discussion Paper, Perspectives
In April 2013, in collaboration with the Connecticut Health Foundation, the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM’s) Roundtable on the Promotion of Health Equity and the Elimination of Health Disparities convened a public workshop with community leaders and health policy...
by Laura DeStefano | Jun 14, 2013 | Commentary, Perspectives
According to the Institute of Medicine report Best Care at Lower Cost: The Path to Continuously Learning Health Care in America, as much as $750 billion—or 30 percent [1]—of health care expenditures may be wasted, including a substantial share from services that are...
by Laura DeStefano | Jun 11, 2013 | Discussion Paper, Perspectives
Context Globalization has resulted in countries importing foreign products in numbers never before seen. For example, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that the products it regulates now originate in more than 150 countries and 300,000 foreign...
by Laura DeStefano | Jun 11, 2013 | Commentary, Perspectives
Business and government often respond rapidly, without engaging health professionals, in their efforts to solve crises or embrace new technologies. Too often, decisions made prove to be shortsighted. One needs only to look to recent history for unintended...
by Jenna Ogilvie | May 31, 2013 | Commentary, Perspectives
For the global development community, 2015 is a pivotal year. Under United Nations leadership, multilateral organizations, national governments, international and national nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions, and other civil society sectors are...
by Laura DeStefano | May 29, 2013 | Discussion Paper, Perspectives
Introduction We are entering a critical time in health care in the United States. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) changes the American health care system in many ways. Of major importance is the fact that it expands access to health insurance for...
by Jenna Ogilvie | May 29, 2013 | Commentary, Perspectives
A central tenet of the learning health system philosophy is that evidence development should be part of care delivery. Furthermore, it should be possible to address difficult problems in the learning health system; health care-associated infections are such problems....