The words "Triple Aim" and the terms that are part of its lexicon are often misused. This post by Niñon Lewis, MS, Director of IHI's Triple Aim for Populations Focus Area, offers practical guidance on how to make sense of population-focused terminology and Triple Aim terminology.
When IHI first developed the Triple Aim framework in 2007, the idea of trying to improve the patient care experience, improve the health of a population, and reduce per capita health care costs at the same time was considered somewhat radical. It took years for such an ambitious concept, and the words used to describe it, to enter the health care mainstream. Fast forward to 2014 and type the words "Triple Aim" into a Google search,
and you'll get 32,100,000 results.
The words Triple Aim, however, and the terms that are part of its lexicon, are often misused. We recently offered practical guidance on how to make sense of and use population-focused terminology. Similarly, we hope the following primer on Triple Aim terminology (including “Triple Aim,” “IHI Triple Aim,” and “IHI Triple Aim Initiative”) is helpful.
What Do the Different Terms Mean?
- TRIPLE AIM. The term “Triple Aim” refers to the
simultaneous pursuit of improving the patient experience of care, improving the
health of populations, and reducing the per capita cost of health care. Note
that the Triple Aim is a single aim with three dimensions. Through our work,
IHI has developed a set of high-level measures that operationally
define each dimension of the Triple Aim. Pursuing the Triple Aim is an
extremely ambitious purpose that will not be achievable through minor
modifications of the status quo.
- IHI TRIPLE AIM FRAMEWORK. The “IHI
Triple Aim framework” was
developed in 2007 by IHI in a series of 90-day Research & Development projects,
IHI's method for quickly researching innovative ideas and assessing their
potential for advancing quality improvement. Note that IHI prefers that the
term “framework” be used to describe the IHI Triple Aim, as opposed to
“model” or “concept.” The IHI Triple Aim framework is used by organizations and
coalitions to implement the Triple Aim for the populations they serve.
- IHI TRIPLE AIM INITIATIVE. The “IHI
Triple Aim Initiative” refers to IHI’s multi-year effort to pilot-test the
IHI Triple Aim framework, which has included the IHI Triple Aim Prototyping Initiative and the IHI Triple Aim Improvement Community. The effort began in 2007 with a group of 15
organizations in the US, England, and Sweden that focused on implementing the
Triple Aim. The effort continued through 2014, and has involved more than 150
organizations to date from the US, Canada, England, Scotland, Spain, Sweden,
Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. More information about IHI’s continued
Triple Aim-related programming is available at ihi.org.
Incorrect Modifications of Triple Aim Terminology
As the Triple Aim has become a familiar term,
its meaning has sometimes been modified in ways that diminish the ambition of
the concept, and lessen the degree of system change needed to attain it.
- Some
modifications focus primarily on patient
satisfaction, rather than the intended scope of patient experience as defined by the six Institute of Medicine dimensions (safe,
effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable).
- Some modifications leave out the population health dimension altogether,
focusing instead on quality, satisfaction, and costs, often in acute care
settings. True Triple Aim improvement cannot be
realized by health care systems acting alone, nor by solely delivering high-quality
care at lower costs. Improving health is a challenge that requires the engagement of partners across the community to
address the broader determinants of health.
Some
modifications focus solely on reducing the growth
in health care costs. The Triple Aim is intended to reduce costs on a per capita basis. Simply
slowing unsustainable growth in costs is not good enough; we must find ways to
reduce per capita costs and allow society to use these resources in other ways. For those organizations and communities in resource-limited
settings around the world, or those managing fixed health care budgets such as
the United Kingdom, it may be more appropriate to focus on value for money invested, rather than cost reduction.
Do I Need Permission to Use These Terms?
- Any
individual or entity is encouraged to use the terms “Triple Aim,” “IHI Triple
Aim framework,” or “IHI Triple Aim Initiative,” as defined above.
- When
an individual or entity uses the term “Triple Aim,” IHI requests (but does not
require) that they note that “The IHI Triple Aim framework was developed by the
Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Cambridge, Massachusetts
(www.ihi.org).”
- Use
of the terms “Triple Aim,” “IHI Triple Aim framework,” or “IHI Triple Aim
Initiative” must not imply that IHI has endorsed any for-profit entity or
product, as laid out in IHI’s Principles for Engaging with Commerical Organizations.
- Use
of the terms “Triple Aim,” “IHI Triple Aim framework,” or “IHI Triple Aim
Initiative” must not imply that IHI has approved, reviewed, or certified that
any entity or collection of entities is working toward, is close to achieving,
or has achieved the Triple Aim, unless IHI has granted permission (request
permission at info@ihi.org).
The IHI Triple Aim framework often functions
as a statement of purpose for health care system transformation that will better
meet the needs of people and patients. Its successful implementation will
result in fundamentally new systems contributing to the overall health of
populations while reducing the cost to society. IHI developed the IHI Triple
Aim framework over seven years of intensive testing with over 150
organizations, coalitions, and governments around the world. We continue to
test its meaning in IHI’s ongoing work in partnership with health organizations
and communities who want to build the infrastructural set-up to work on the
Triple Aim for the populations they serve.
As more and more communities and regions
begin to use the IHI Triple Aim framework to galvanize large-scale health
improvement, IHI will continue to broaden its understanding of the Triple Aim and
its meaning beyond the health care system: to population and community health, the experience of care and health for the individual, and per capita cost of care paired with a focus on the economic vitality
of the community.
If you have questions about the use of any of
the terms outlined above, please contact info@ihi.org.
Download: PDF version of A Primer on Defining the Triple Aim
