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Abstract:
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Medical knowledge is increasing at an exponential rate, reshaping the health care environment with a steady stream of diagnostic and therapeutic innovations. This has led to substantial improvements in health outcomes but is also associated with a concerning rate of medical error, inefficiency, and variations in practice patterns. Addressing these problems will require health care delivery systems characterized by continuous learning and improvement, in which science, informatics, incentives, and culture are aligned. Efforts to create such a system include: (i) catalyzing health care delivery research; (ii) adding evaluation components to quality improvement initiatives; (iii) increasing use of electronic health record system (EHR) data for research and data-sharing; and (iv) including front-line clinicians in this research agenda. I’ll present two challenges facing US healthcare: 1) how to choose patients for knee-replacement surgery who will benefit most in terms of their quality of life and what is the cost-effectiveness of this procedure? and 2) how to improve quality of cancer care through modelling of incurred cost? I’ll highlight how biostatistical methods play a crucial role in answering these questions and illustrate how collaborations guided with principles of team science provides opportunity for practicing leadership, embracing diversity, managing conflict, and sharing credit.
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