Learning health system
Quality Management
Definition. A learning health system is one in which data generated by everyday care are continuously analysed and turned into knowledge that improves care.
Explanation
Friedman and colleagues described the vision of a nationwide learning health system in which the cycle from data to knowledge to practice runs routinely (Friedman et al., 2010).
It requires interoperable data, analytic capacity, governance and a culture that values learning.
Related concepts
Predictive quality Interoperability Continuous quality improvement Implementation science
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References
Friedman, C. P., Wong, A. K., & Blumenthal, D. (2010). Achieving a nationwide learning health system. Science Translational Medicine, 2 (57), Article 57cm29. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.3001456
Cite this entry: Kurutkan, M. N. (2026). Learning health system. In The Health Topics glossary. https://healthtopic.org/glossary/learning-health-system/
Articles that discuss this concept
2 articles on The Health Topics mention this concept. Most relevant first.