Research theme Healthcare improvement science

Healthcare improvement science

This theme focuses on the structure, processes, and outcomes of healthcare in daily practice, aiming at improving its performance and delivery from the perspective of the patient. Researchers study existing and new interventions at the micro and macro level. Our aim is to explore which healthcare interventions or structures work in what circumstances and for whom. The value for the patient is paramount.

Whereas most research themes are disease-oriented, the theme Healthcare improvement science (HcIS) also focuses on specialized questions addressing general healthcare outcome and delivery. Hence this theme surpasses the traditional boundaries of disease-oriented themes. Central aim is to better understand how person-centered evidence-based medicine and healthcare delivery in the complex context of daily practice are linked.
 

Objectives

• To position this theme in the research chain from molecule to man to population, between man and population, and aim at contributing to excellent delivery of care, that is both effective and efficient.
• To identify facilitators and barriers influencing the implementation of improvements in patient care throughout any transmural care chain and to unravel the complex dynamics that produce variations in healthcare processes and outcomes.
• To develop methodology and tools for personalized healthcare, by examining, for example, the development of resilience and recovery indicators, patient-oriented outcome measures (PROMs), patient-oriented record keeping and communication, the impact of the (personal) context and complexity on the manifestation and outcomes of health problems.
• To develop research methods tailored to answering complex questions in healthcare improvement science, such as the early and rapid evaluation of new medical technology, the impact of multi-morbidity, network analysis and complexity science, the proper use of big data, and patient participation in healthcare and research.