Quintuple Aim
Definition: The Quintuple Aim is an expansion beyond both the Triple Aim and Quadruple Aim. Initially, the Triple Aim focused on enhancing patient experience, improving population health, and reducing costs.1 The Quadruple Aim was expanded to include improvement of the work-life harmony of health care providers.1 Most recently, the Quintuple Aim proposed adding the goal of advancing health equity.1 The Institute for Healthcare Improvement compares these five elements to points on a star: all five points are connected and are synergistic in improving health care.1 In order to fully meet the goals of enhancing patient experiences, improving population health, and reducing costs, the work-life of health care providers and health equity must be taken into consideration.
How it relates to ACOs/PCMHs and pharmacists in these settings: The focus of the Quintuple Aim is improving patient care and practices within primary care medical homes (PCMHs) and ACOs. Expansion of pharmacists’ roles can help support many aspects of the Quintuple Aim. For example, pharmacists can assume responsibility for chronic disease state management and preventive care to increase the efficiency of the care team, support value-based care, and have a clinical impact. To address health equity, pharmacists can aid in identifying and overcoming inequities by completing interventions that consider the unique needs of each patient.2 Pharmacists can also play a role in quality-focused initiatives to support providers’ efforts to improve the quality of care. Expanding the roles of pharmacists within the care team can increase access to care for patients while fostering collaboration and allowing pharmacists to practice at the top of their training.
Involved organizations/oversight: The expansion of the Triple Aim to the Quintuple Aim has been proposed by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement to improve the work-life harmony of health care providers and incorporate health equity. Development of this model will allow health care systems to be better equipped to meet the needs of diverse patient populations.3
Resources:
- Mate K. On the Quintuple Aim: Why Expand Beyond the Triple Aim? Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Available at: https://www.ihi.org/insights/quintuple-aim-why-expand-beyond-triple-aim Accessed March 5, 2024.
- Nundy S, Cooper LA, Mate KS. The Quintuple Aim for Health Care Improvement: A New Imperative to Advance Health Equity. JAMA. 2022;327(6):521–522.
- Lennon Y. The Quintuple Aim: What Is It and Why Does it Matter? Chess Health Solutions. Available at: https://www.chesshealthsolutions.com/2023/08/01/the-quintuple-aim-what-is-it-and-why-does-it-matter/#:~:text=The%20Quintuple%20Aim%20is%20an,system%20to%20establish%20health%20equity. Accessed March 5, 2024.
Last reviewed and updated 3/11/24 by Marilee Clemons, PharmD, BCACP