The Article in Brief

Improving Medical Practice: A Conceptual Framework

Leif I. Solberg, MD

Background Systems of delivering health care need to be improved in order to improve American medicine. This article provides a simple framework for changing medical practice. The framework is based on existing information about quality improvement as well as the author’s extensive experience in this area.

What This Study Found To improve care, health care organizations or systems must address 3 main factors: priority (the desire and commitment of the organization to change), change process capability (factors that help an organization change, such as strong, effective leadership and communication skills), and care process content (specific changes in patient care activities). Change also depends on removing or minimizing barriers to change and encouraging elements that help change to happen.

Implications

• This simple framework can be a guide for individuals and organizations that would like to change the way they delivery medical care.
• It can also be helpful in developing or testing specific programs and recruiting medical practices to take part in change efforts.