IHI

IHI most commonly refers to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, a nonprofit organization based in the United States that focuses on improving health care quality and patient safety. Founded in 1991 by physician and reformer Donald M. Berwick and colleagues, the institute develops and promotes methods for systematic improvement in health care through collaborations, education, and research. Its work centers on applying improvement science to real-world health systems and sharing evidence-based tools.

Key activities include developing and disseminating practical methodologies such as Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, hosting learning collaboratives, publishing toolkits and e-learning programs, and running the IHI Open School for professional education. The organization has advocated for the Triple Aim—simultaneous goals of improving the patient experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing per capita costs of health care. IHI operates with partners across hospitals, government agencies, and international health systems, and it has influenced quality-improvement initiatives worldwide.

In other contexts, the acronym IHI can refer to other organizations, programs, or concepts depending on usage. When encountered, the intended meaning is typically clarified by accompanying context. See also: Triple Aim, patient safety, quality improvement, IHI Open School.