Learning Healthcare Systems
The prospect of structured electronic health records, rigorous outcome measurement and alternative
research methodologies offer the possibility of a healthcare system that learns from each patient
who is treated. Such a system could improve diagnosis and help to identify the treatment that is likely
to have the best outcomes for each individual patient according to their priorities.
Such developments could greatly improve the safety, effectiveness and cost effectiveness of healthcare
and could represent a paradigm shift in the conduct of clinical research. They could also raise major ethical,
regulatory, workforce and patient acceptability issues. There remain major questions about the feasibility of
such systems and the extent to which they will transform healthcare in coming decades. This project will bring
together many of the leading experts on Learning Healthcare Systems with healthcare policy makers to explore
these questions.
This website will collate the views of the experts and we invite you, the patient, clinician, policy maker
or academic, to add your views to the debate by commenting on the evidence that we collect and on our
interpretation of it. Together we will attempt to look into the future of healthcare.
The site is divided into sections and sub-sections, visible on the navigation bar above.
If you are viewing on a large screen, you will see a graphical site map below.
This site will grow as we upload interviews, case studies and other evidence. If you would like us to keep you
up-to-date, then please use the "sign up" option above.
View our publications here