A new publication first-authored by CHAMP founder and Professor Emeritus, Stephen Shortell highlights the critical need for a renewed focus on “practical wisdom” in U.S. health care reform.
Despite spending nearly 17 percent of its GDP—totaling $4.9 trillion annually—on health care, the United States continues to rank among the lowest-performing countries in the OECD on key health outcomes. Stark disparities in infant and maternal mortality, hospital safety, and overall care quality persist, especially among minority populations.
The study argues that while numerous reform efforts have aimed to make the system more patient-centered—drawing inspiration from the Institute of Medicine’s landmark Crossing the Quality Chasm report—many have fallen short. The missing ingredient, Shortell and co-authors suggest, is practical wisdom: the moral will and professional skill to adapt policies and incentives in ways that truly respond to patients’ unique needs.
“Health care’s ultimate purpose is to prevent and cure disease and relieve suffering,” says Shortell. “We need to empower clinicians and health systems to exercise the judgment and flexibility necessary to fulfill this purpose—not just follow rules.”
The article calls on policymakers, health care leaders, and educators to support the development of practical wisdom through training, leadership, and culture change—making it a cornerstone of meaningful, patient-centered reform.
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