A regional collaborative working to improve health care quality, outcomes, and affordability
International Journal of Health Governance
ISSN: 2059-4631
Article publication date: 4 December 2017
Issue publication date: 4 December 2017
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the Bree Collaborative’s background, history, structure, and work.
Design/methodology/approach
The Bree Collaborative was established by the Washington State Legislature to convene public and private health care stakeholders with the goal of identifying specific mechanisms to improve health care quality, outcomes, and affordability. These members are appointed by the Washington State Governor and represent public health care purchasers for Washington State, private health care purchasers (employers and union trusts), health plans, physicians and other health care providers, hospitals, and quality improvement organizations. Members annually select health care services that show high variation in care delivery, that are highly utilized without leading to better care or patient health, or that have known or suspected patient safety issues and develop recommendations for health care improvement.
Findings
Recommendations are meant to be implemented by the Washington State Health Care Authority and used to set a community standard across the state. Successful implementation depends on several factors including engaged health care purchasers, support from diverse partners, and a health care community willing to put the patient at the center of care.
Originality/value
Bottom-up, collective action through the Bree Collaborative can help achieve the triple aim for Washington State and should be used as a model nationally and internationally.
Keywords
Citation
Weir, V. (2017), "A regional collaborative working to improve health care quality, outcomes, and affordability", International Journal of Health Governance, Vol. 22 No. 4, pp. 292-301. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHG-08-2017-0041
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited