An ad hoc committee will consider the urgent and longer-term actions necessary to foster the development of a continuously learning healthcare system. Building on recent related work of the Institute of Medicine, particularly that undertaken to inform the dialogue and discussions of the Roundtable on Value & Science-Driven Health Care, the committee will conduct a study and make recommendations that can help transform the current healthcare delivery system into one of continuous assessment and improvement for both the effectiveness and efficiency of health care.

Effectiveness. The Committee will define the foundational elements of a learning system for health care that is effective and continuously improving—that marshals the best and most appropriate evidence for application at the point of decision; accounts for patient circumstances and preferences; employs information systems that can accurately record and exchange information on care processes and results; is designed to capture information from the care experience in order to improve care through real-time insights, learning, and evidence development; accelerates the dissemination of innovation through processes, such as regulations, business models, and economic approaches, that also assure safety and value; and ensures continuous feedback for all decision levels.

Efficiency. The Committee will define the foundational characteristics of a healthcare system that is efficient, delivers increased value, and is continuously innovating and improving in its ability to deliver high value to patients—that has agreed-upon key elements and analytic methods for assessing the value proposition in health care; is fully transparent as to costs and outcomes in care; continuously assesses the effectiveness of health care delivered; accelerates exploration of alternatives; accounts appropriately for differences in patient circumstances and preferences; and appropriately assesses opportunity costs.

Based on this work, the Committee will prepare its report with findings on major opportunities, deficiencies, and their consequences; identify the key pressure points; and propose policy initiatives and priorities for government and other stakeholders to accelerate progress for continuous improvement in the value of health care delivered to Americans.