AcademyHealth envisions a future where individuals and communities are made healthier by the use of evidence in decision-making.
Together with its members, AcademyHealth works to improve health and the performance of the health system by supporting the production and use of evidence to inform policy and practice.
We believe policies affecting health and the performance of the health system should be informed by the best and most relevant evidence. We will promote both the production and use of evidence from health services and policy research to improve health, health care, and public health.
We maintain that the production of evidence about what works to improve health and the performance of the health system, for whom, under what conditions, and with which outcomes, is a common good. We advocate for and support the development of the workforce, data and information infrastructure, and funding necessary to produce relevant, high quality, timely evidence.
We believe that diverse perspectives lead to richer and more nuanced understanding of issues related to health and the performance of the health system. We support a big tent approach and encourage participation from all. Our activities are nonpartisan and seek to encourage and support diversity in the field.
We strive to develop high quality programs and services that address the needs and concerns of our field and members, as well as anticipate, respond to, and raise awareness of a changing environment for health and the performance of the health system. The richness of these activities is enhanced through the efforts of our member volunteers. We will recruit and retain highly trained and motivated staff who represent, reflect and promote the field.
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Advancing Research, Policy and Practice to Improve Health and Health Care
2015-2019
Pillars
• Advance the Field to Generate Useful, High-Quality Evidence
• Move Evidence into Policy and Practice
Areas of Emphasis
In its programming, AcademyHealth addresses a broad range of topics across health services and policy research. To ensure we are responsive to a constantly changing health care environment, we also scan for and invest in areas of growing importance to the field.
These areas are a lens through which we view new opportunities and enhance existing programs and services. Currently, these areas of emphasis include:
• Addressing Cost and Value – The pursuit of lower costs and higher value from the health care system is one of the most critical issues of our time. As such, it continues to be a significant area of emphasis for AcademyHealth, our partners and programs.
• Driving Public and Population Health – There is a growing recognition that health and health care outcomes are significantly impacted by the characteristics of the communities where we live, work and play.
To encourage a culture of health and support the evolving role of public health, AcademyHealth works to advance the rigor, relevance and use of health services research to improve public health systems, population health and health equity.
• Improving the Research Data Infrastructure – The environment for health services research is evolving rapidly, with significant changes in the volume, variety and velocity of data available, and new opportunities for collaboration across sectors. In response,
AcademyHealth is working to build an infrastructure of training, methods and governance to support evolving and emerging data streams and address relevant research questions in rigorous and novel ways.
• Transforming the Delivery System – Increasingly, delivery system leaders are investing in systems to improve access and quality, reduce waste, and deliver better outcomes for individuals. To support these initiatives, AcademyHealth works to engage delivery system leaders with the broader evidence producing community and provide training and support that expands researchers’ capacity to address delivery system challenges.
Organizational Goals
Goal I: Build a Vibrant and Diverse Community for Evidence
Producers and Users
AcademyHealth will grow and strengthen membership and member engagement, and work with organizational partners to serve as a clear and strong voice for advancing the field of health services research and its use in health policy and practice. This work will include the full spectrum of individuals and organizations that produce and use health services research, including policymakers, health system leaders, clinicians and health care providers, and others.
Goal II: Advance the Science of Health Services and Policy
Research Production and Use
The field and methods of health services research continue to evolve to respond to the changing evidence needs of policy, systems, community leaders, and individuals. AcademyHealth will leverage its skills and those of its members and target audiences to advance the scientific underpinning of health services and policy research, including the data and methods necessary to produce and use evidence in a rapidly changing environment. AcademyHealth will grow existing and develop new programs, projects and services by securing funding; identifying, cultivating, and engaging new audiences and partner organizations; increasing visibility through convening and dissemination; and expanding staff capacity in our areas of emphasis.
Goal III: Move Knowledge into Action Through Synthesis,
Translation, Dissemination, and Technical Assistance
To improve health and the performance of the health system, health services and policy research evidence must be identified, understood and effectively applied. AcademyHealth will work with public and private sector decision makers (including policymakers, delivery system leaders, public health leaders, purchasers, national stakeholder organizations, consumer organizations, etc.), to identify priority needs, promote and translate available evidence, and foster collaborations among the research, policy and practitioner communities to move knowledge into action. In support of these efforts, AcademyHealth will build trusted communities of practice to promote continuous linkage and exchange between evidence producers and users.
Goal IV: Ensure that AcademyHealth Is a High Performing
Organization, Including Financial Capacity and Work Environment
AcademyHealth can serve its community and achieve its vision only if it continues to be a financially sound organization with highly accomplished staff and robust governance and communication practices. It will pursue mission-aligned programmatic funding, manage those resources effectively, and attract, train, and retain highly talented, diverse and motivated staff.
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