High Quality Care: A Multifaceted Pursuit | Estateplanning

High quality care is a dynamic concept that encompasses various dimensions, including patient safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity. According to the Institute of Medicine, high quality care should be safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reports that in 2020, approximately 27% of patients in the United States experienced a preventable harm during their hospital stay. Meanwhile, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that patients who received high quality care had a 25% lower risk of mortality compared to those who received lower quality care. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the pursuit of high quality care remains a pressing concern, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that approximately 400 million people worldwide lack access to essential healthcare services. The future of high quality care will likely be shaped by emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and telemedicine, which have the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare disparities. However, these advancements also raise important questions about the role of technology in healthcare and the potential risks and benefits associated with their adoption.