National Academy of Medicine’s Six Aims for Improvement

Safe

Avoiding injuries to patients from the care that is intended to help them.

Effective

Providing services based on scientific knowledge to all who could benefit, and refraining from providing services to those not likely to benefit.

Patient-centered

Providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values, and ensuring that patient values guide all clinical decisions.

Timely

Reducing waits and sometimes harmful delays for both those who receive and those who give care.

Efficient

Avoiding waste, including waste of equipment, supplies, ideas, and energy.

Equitable

Providing care that does not vary in quality because of personal characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, geographic location, and socioeconomic status.