From Theory to Practice: A Self-Assessment Tool for Learning Health Systems Implementation
Details
Learning health systems (LHS) promise to transform healthcare delivery through data-driven improvement, but their practical implementation often proves challenging. While the concept of using real-world data and embedded research to enhance quality improvement is compelling, healthcare teams frequently struggle to translate these principles into actionable steps. The result? Wasted resources, delayed initiatives, and frustrated partners.
Dr. Victor Rentes addresses this gap by introducing a novel self-assessment tool designed specifically for interprofessional healthcare teams. This practical instrument guides teams through the concrete steps of LHS implementation, helping them:
- Establish clear, shared objectives across diverse partners
- Assess their current LHS maturity level
- Identify specific action items for progress
- Track implementation milestones effectively
Drawing from pilot studies at the University of Michigan Medical School and the University of Toronto’s Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, Dr. Rentes will share insights from the tool’s collaborative development process and early implementation results. Session participants will learn about the tool’s key components, its practical application in different healthcare settings, and its potential to streamline LHS initiatives across multiple clinical programs.
Victor Rentes, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
University of Toronto, Learning Health System Trainee, Institute for Better Health
Trillium Health Partners
Dr. Victor Rentes brings together expertise in health systems engineering, implementation science, and organizational change management. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation (Dalla Lana School of Public Health) and Learning Health Systems Trainee at Trillium Health Partners’ Institute for Better Health, he focuses on transforming healthcare delivery through applied systems thinking and participatory action-research. Dr. Rentes earned his PhD in Learning Health Systems from the University of Michigan Medical School, building on his foundation in Industrial Engineering (B.Eng) and Management Science (MSc) from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. His research examines management systems needed to enable successful digital innovation in healthcare. Through design science, implementation science, and innovation management, he works to accelerate evidence-based improvements in healthcare delivery at scale, emphasizing the development of robust organizational capabilities for sustainable transformation. His work prioritizes collaborative engagement with healthcare teams, patients, communities, researchers, and system leaders.