Importance of Policy Makers

In Crossing the Quality Chasm, the Institute of Medicine reported that the American health care system is in need of fundamental change. The report states that “Americans can have the healthcare system of the quality they need, want, and deserve, but this higher quality cannot be achieved by further stressing current systems of care. The current system cannot do the job. Trying harder will not work. Changing systems of care will.” Recommendations from this landmark report combined with what is known about the critical role of primary care in successful and sustainable healthcare systems emphasize that policy makers are key in this transformation.

Key characteristics of policy makers:

• Decision makers with authority to allocate resources
• Advocacy for appropriate healthcare
• Influence revision in how primary care and their practices are paid
• Vital in dissemination and adoption of results