The quality of health care a person receives and their overall care experience are both essential parts of what they need to be healthy. This is especially true for people who have more interactions with the health care system, like people with disabilities, people with chronic conditions, and older adults.

No matter who you are, you deserve access to affordable, high quality, person-centered care. The World Health Organization defines person-centered care as: “empowering people to take charge of their own health rather than being passive recipients of services.” Essentially, this type of care means that every person should have a strong voice in the decisions regarding their health and wellness.

In 2001, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report called Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Healthcare System for the 21st Century, which introduced six aims for improvement in health care quality: safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. Since then, the dimensions of health care quality have been expanded to include: improving the patient experience, better outcomes, lower costs, clinician well-being, and health equity. The IOM asserts that addressing these aims will lead not only to better health but also an improved economy.

Community Catalyst works with partners across the country to drive initiatives related to health care quality and experience. Our Center for Community Engagement in Health Innovation works with communities and advocates on the ground by providing expertise to ensure individuals and families, particularly those with complex health and social needs, can influence all levels of the health care delivery system—from individual care to health system design.

Together with partners, we help advocates build their skills and power to push systems toward person-centered care. We are committed to creating a society where health is a right for all, with high quality care that centers the experience of each person.