Why Not Do Something that Changes the World?
Posted by Scott Good
Sometimes it just takes someone to put "the obvious" into a simple paradigm. Doing so catches people's attention, critical momentum is gained, and lives are changed. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" (Declaration of Independence, 1776); "Liberty, equality, brotherhood" (French Revolution, 1789); "Healthy, wealthy, and wise" (John Clarke, 1639; Ben Franklin, around 1745).
In 2007, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) launched its "Triple Aim." Triple Aim is a simple paradigm that with three purposes: (1) improving population health outcomes, (2) improving the quality of patient experience, and, (3) reducing costs. This isn't rocket science - we all want to stay or get healthy, feel comfortable with the process, and save money for ourselves and the healthcare system - but that doesn't mean that it is easy either.
On a practical level, I compare the Triple Aim to long distance running. I am a very, very slow runner, but I can run long distance when I'm in shape. I've run five or six marathons in the past few years, and am planning to run one more in 2013 and then a seventh in Miami 2014. My problem is that I am impatient in my training. After running no more than two or three miles in nearly a year, I decided to go for a 13.6 mile run (yes ... stupid on many levels) because I really dislike the four to six weeks that it normally takes me to get up to that distance. Did this make sense in Triple Aim terms? No.
- My time was slower than I wanted (suboptimal outcome)
- My heart rate was faster than it should be and I cramped up (so much for improving the quality of my experience)
- I had to buy Band -Aids for the blisters (my costs were NOT reduced)
Whether in healthcare (where the potential payoff is in billions of dollars and hundreds of millions of healthier people) or running (cramping calves and blisters), an integrated plan that focuses on simultaneously improving all three legs of the Triple Aim simply makes sense. Crescendo works with clients to integrate the Triple Aim philosophy into their strategic planning, service line development, community outreach, and marketing initiatives. If you are interested in learning how to effectively train for a marathon (and avoid the high cost of bandages) or change the world by positively impacting the lives of people in your service area while potentially saving money, Crescendo can help.