The Triple Aim: Care, Health, And Cost

Donald M. Berwick,
Thomas W. Nolan and
John Whittington

Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in Cambridge,
Massachusetts.

Donald Berwick (dberwick1@ihi.org)

Abstract

Improving the U.S. health care system requires simultaneous pursuit of three aims: improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing per capita costs of health care. Preconditions for this include the enrollment of an identified population, a commitment to universality for its members, and the existence of an organization (an “integrator”) that accepts responsibility for all three aims for that population. The integrator’s role includes at least five components: partnership with individuals and families, redesign of primary care, population health management, financial management, and macro system integration.