Humanism in Healthcare Supports the Quadruple Aim

Research on the impact of humanism

Search our database of studies that demonstrate how humanism in healthcare supports the Quadruple Aim, or click on one of the four aspects of the Quadruple Aim here:

  1. Better experience: Humanism improves the patient care experience
  2. Better health: Humanism improves health outcomes
  3. Lower cost: Humanism reduces healthcare costs
  4. Joy in work: Humanism improves the work life of healthcare providers

Background of the Quadruple Aim

The Triple Aim framework was introduced in 2007 by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. The goal is to simultaneously

  • improve the patient care experience
  • improve the health of a population, and
  • reduce per capita health care costs.

In the papers “From Triple to Quadruple Aim” and “Physician Well-Being: Expanding the Triple Aim” authors have pointed out how burnout and physician well-being remains a major factor in the quality of healthcare. They assert that an additional aim is required:

  • improving the work life of health care providers, including clinicians and staff

What is humanism?

At The Arnold P. Gold Foundation, we define humanism in healthcare as kind, safe, trustworthy care.