Health On The Line Decision quality and the future of neighbourhood health: a US perspective
Oct 17, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Al Mulley, a professor specializing in healthcare delivery science, and Heather Moorhead, director of NICON, tackle pressing topics in healthcare. They highlight the importance of decision quality in developing sustainable neighborhood health systems. Mulley emphasizes the need for relational skills over clinical hierarchy and discusses how engaging patients can reduce unnecessary treatments. Moorhead shares insights on Northern Ireland's healthcare challenges and the importance of collaboration to enhance community health.
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Humble Roots Shaped A Healthcare Mission
- Al Mulley grew up in a poor New England community with limited access to healthcare and admired the NHS from early on.
- His background shaped his focus on equity, decision quality, and building sustainable healthcare systems.
Judge Decisions By Process Not Outcomes
- Decision quality should be judged by the care taken to consider options, outcomes, and patient preferences, not by outcomes alone.
- Quantifying outcomes in patients' lives completes the decision-making process and improves system intelligence.
More Care Isn’t Always Better Care
- High regional variation in care often reflects waste and does not yield better patient outcomes.
- More activity can mean more harm and dissatisfaction, not higher value for money.
