Achieving the Quadruple Aim: Clinician Health Matters, Too

Helping cardiologists achieve a work-life balance and avoid burnout will be a goal of the American College of Cardiology, according of an article in the April 2018 issue of the Journal of American College of Cardiology. The "triple aim" of building a system focused on quality, better outcomes, and reduced costs has become the foundation of healthcare, the author said. It is now time to add a fourth aim that addresses professional well-being. Increases in regulatory, administrative, and professional burdens have led to clinician burnout and are working counter to the goals of the triple aim, the author said. Burnout can be addressed and addressing it yields a measurable return on investment, the author said. Achieving the "quadruple aim" will now be a part of the American College of Cardiology's strategic plan for 2019 to 2023, the author said. The highest priority will be reducing the administrative and professional burdens faced by its members. This will mean enhancing integration with electronic health records and leveraging technology to deliver education.