Pierre-Gerlier Forest and his colleagues make a strong argument for the need to expand policy capacity among healthcare actors. In this commentary, I develop an additional argument in support of Forest et al view. Forest et al rightly point to the need to have embedded policy experts to successfully translate healthcare reform policy into healthcare change. Translation of externally generated innovation policy into local solutions is only one source of healthcare system change. We also need to build learning healthcare systems that can discover new health solutions at the frontline of care. Enhanced policy capacity staffing in those organizations will be key to building continuously learning health systems.
Forest PG, Denis JL, Brown LD, Helms D. Health reform requires policy capacity. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2015;4(5):265-266. Doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2015.85
Stevens J, Kelleher KJ, Gardner W, et al. A trial of computerized screening for adolescent behavioral concerns. Pediatrics. 2008;121:1099-1105.
Gardner W, Kelleher KJ. A learning health care system for pediatrics. JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(4):303-304. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.5163
Greene SM, Reid RJ, Larson EB. Implementing the learning health system: from concept to action. Ann Intern Med. 2012;157(3):207-210. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-157-3-201208070-00012
National Research Council. Best Care at Lower Cost: The Path to Continuously Learning Health Care in America. Washington DC: National Academies Press; 2012.
Pronovost P, Needham D, Berenholtz S, et al. An Intervention to decrease catheter-related bloodstream infections in the ICU. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(26):2725-2732. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1407764
Arora S, Thornton K, Murata G, et al. Outcomes of treatment for hepatitis C virus infection by primary care providers. N Engl J Med. 2011;364(23):2199-2207. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1009370
Collins F, Varmus H. A new initiative on precision medicine. N Engl J Med. 2015;372(9):793-795. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1415160
Murphy S, Churchill S, Bry L, et al. Instrumenting the health care enterprise for discovery research in the genomic era. Genome Res. 2009;19(9):1675-1681. doi:10.1101/gr.094615.109
Tamblyn R. Accelerating the road to change. Healthc Pap. 2014;14(3):17-21. doi:10.12927/hcpap.2015.24261
Kelleher KJ, Cooper J, Deans K, et al. Cost saving and quality of care in a pediatric accountable care organization. Pediatrics. 2015;135(3):e582-e589. doi:10.1542/peds.2014-2725
Westfall JM, Mold J, Fangan L. Practice-based research—“blue highways” on the NIH roadmap. JAMA. 2007;297(4):403-406. doi:10.1001/jama.297.4.403
Reis SE, McDonald MC, Byers SJ. Crossing the research valleys of death: the university of pittsburgh approach. Clin Transl Sci. 2008;1(1):9–10. doi:10.1111/j.1752-8062.2008.00021.x
Gardner, W. (2015). Policy Capacity in the Learning Healthcare System; Comment on “Health Reform Requires Policy Capacity”. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 4(12), 841-843. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2015.147
MLA
Gardner, W. . "Policy Capacity in the Learning Healthcare System; Comment on “Health Reform Requires Policy Capacity”", International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 4, 12, 2015, 841-843. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2015.147
HARVARD
Gardner, W. (2015). 'Policy Capacity in the Learning Healthcare System; Comment on “Health Reform Requires Policy Capacity”', International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 4(12), pp. 841-843. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2015.147
CHICAGO
W. Gardner, "Policy Capacity in the Learning Healthcare System; Comment on “Health Reform Requires Policy Capacity”," International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 4 12 (2015): 841-843, doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2015.147
VANCOUVER
Gardner, W. Policy Capacity in the Learning Healthcare System; Comment on “Health Reform Requires Policy Capacity”. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 2015; 4(12): 841-843. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2015.147
)
