What is a learning health system?

In a Learning Health System (LHS), organizations or networks continuously self-study and systematically integrate internal data and experience with external evidence to more effectively put knowledge into practice. As a result, patients get higher quality, safer, more efficient care.

The LHS concept, first expressed by the Institute of Medicine in 2007, is now being rapidly adopted across the country and around the world.

In a learning health system, the cycle of learning to change behavior and improve outcomes applies to all workforce development, including individuals and groups to the system as a whole. This learning community is dedicated to starting these cycles and potentially creating infrastructure to support scalable, continuous learning toward improving local OHCA survival.

The image below is the LHS learning cycle or learning loop. The formation of the learning community is a key first step to forming a learning health system.