Institute Of Medicine Definition Of Quality Health Care
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides unbiased advice and guidance to the government, healthcare professionals, and the public regarding health and healthcare issues. In 1999, the IOM published a report titled "To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System," which shed light on the extent of medical errors and their impact on patient safety.
One of the key findings of the report was that the quality of healthcare in the United States was suboptimal, and that too many patients were experiencing preventable harm as a result of medical errors. To address this issue, the IOM defined quality health care as "the degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge."
The Six Dimensions of Quality Health Care
The IOM identified six dimensions of quality health care that healthcare providers should strive to achieve:
- Safe: avoiding injuries to patients from the care that is intended to help them
- Effective: providing services based on scientific knowledge to all who could benefit and refraining from providing services to those not likely to benefit (avoiding underuse and overuse, respectively)
- Patient-centered: providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values, and ensuring that patient values guide all clinical decisions
- Timely: reducing waits and sometimes harmful delays for both those who receive and those who give care
- Efficient: avoiding waste, including waste of equipment, supplies, ideas, and energy
- Equitable: providing care that does not vary in quality because of personal characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, geographic location, and socioeconomic status
By focusing on these six dimensions, healthcare providers can ensure that they are delivering high-quality care that meets the needs of their patients and improves health outcomes.
The Impact of the IOM's Definition on the Healthcare Industry
The IOM's definition of quality health care has had a significant impact on the healthcare industry in the United States. It has served as a foundation for healthcare reform efforts, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was signed into law in 2010.
The ACA includes provisions that aim to improve the quality of healthcare in the United States, such as the creation of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMS Innovation Center), which tests innovative payment and service delivery models that aim to improve quality and reduce costs.
The IOM's definition of quality health care has also led to a greater emphasis on patient-centered care, which prioritizes the needs and preferences of individual patients. This has resulted in the development of tools and strategies to better engage patients in their own care, such as shared decision-making and patient portals.
Overall, the IOM's definition of quality health care has helped to shift the focus of the healthcare industry from a volume-based approach to a value-based approach, where the quality of care is measured by outcomes rather than the number of services provided.
Conclusion
The Institute of Medicine's definition of quality health care has played a critical role in shaping healthcare reform efforts in the United States. By identifying the six dimensions of quality health care, the IOM has provided healthcare providers with a framework for delivering high-quality care that meets the needs of their patients and improves health outcomes. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, it is important to remain focused on delivering patient-centered, value-based care that is safe, effective, timely, efficient, and equitable.
