AHIMA: Failing to see healthcare quality as a science is 'huge mistake'
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She added: “We need health information management; it is completely indispensable.”
The healthcare system has its strengths, including being a leader in biomedical breakthroughs, which means multiple treatment options for patients. But, where the healthcare system falls short, she said, "is in helping patients understand which options are best for them."
Focus on the patient
Clancy noted that everything about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is focused on the needs of the patient. “If you have been in the healthcare system today, either as a patient or with a family member, you know there are a lot of processes, but, you, as a patient, are definitely not in charge,” she said, to some hearty laughter from the audience of health information management professionals. “Patient-centered care is the most important aspect of the six quality measures by the Institute of Medicine.”
With an unprecedented research investment in the U.S., Clancy said, “there is more opportunity to fund research on the data infrastructure, new evidence and a dissemination of best practices so that we get smarter over time,” adding that real patient-centered outcome research will be done as accountable care evolves.
Any time there is a diagnostic treatment decision there are often two or more options. However, what the best fit is for one patient may not be so for another. “Because of the way that healthcare data is organized, it’s very difficult to know what happens to people over a period of time. It’s all about benefits—and harms—associated with the unique characteristics of individuals,” she said.
Which treatment works, for which patients, and what is the trade-off? “The importance of data that follows people, gets information to clinicians, are important means to an electronic pathway because we know how to organize and deliver customized patient data,” she said.
Through AHRQ’s work, the federal agency has been able to support such activities through research reporting and summary guides that are tailored to different healthcare audiences. Included in its information are sample questions that patients can ask their care provider.
Effective healthcare
Clancy said AHRQ’s Effective Healthcare Program includes a “question builder” that shows a list of questions and helps patients make their own customized list of questions before visiting a physician. There are also stories by patients, which show how they improved their healthcare by asking questions and exploring a number of treatment options.
“Through these efforts, we will make care better, making healthcare more patient-centered, reliable, accessible and safe,” she said. “There are many opportunities in healthcare where we are aiming for a patient-centric vision. It is about evidence-based quality improvements that become the standard of care. And, a patient-centric healthcare system can flourish.”