Learning Health Systems

A Leader in Ethics and Learning Health Systems

A Learning Health System (LHS) is one that continuously aggregates and analyzes data from ongoing health care encounters; information gathered and lessons learned from ongoing health care is then incorporated into the improvement of future care, creating a natural feedback loop.

As interest in Learning Health Systems grows, the Berman Institute of Bioethics is deeply engaged in scholarly work on both the ethical foundations and ethical requirements of a LHS.

Learn more about Ethics and Learning Health Systems.

Informing Ethical Practice in Learning Health Systems

Our ethical framework assumes that the quality, efficiency and fairness of health care is improved when research and practice are integrated.

Projects

Patients’ Views on Consent and Respect
Demonstrating Respect and Acceptable Consent Strategies: What Matters to Patients in PCOR?
PCORnet Ethics and Regulatory Task Force
Addressing the ethical and regulatory issues related to research that arise in PCORI’s work
Realizing the Goals of Continuous Learning
Insights on Ethics & Implementation from Institutional Leaders in Learning Health Care
Ethics of Integrating Research and Treatment
Filling in the knowledge and policy gaps to ensure high-value health care outcomes
Stakeholder Views on Streamlined Informed Consent
How should patients be informed about research that compares commonly used treatments or widely practiced medical procedures?
NIH Health Care System Research Collaboratory Regulatory/Ethics Core
Navigating regulatory and ethical complexities associated with pragmatic clinical trials in health care systems
Consent for Pragmatic Trials
Are there morally permissible and socially acceptable alternatives to informed consent for low-risk trials?

Core Research Team

Joseph Ali, JD
Associate Director for Global Programs; Associate Professor
Nancy E. Kass, ScD
Deputy Director for Public Health; Phoebe R. Berman Professor of Bioethics and Public Health
Ruth R. Faden, PhD, MPH
Berman Institute Founder; Philip Franklin Wagley Professor of Biomedical Ethics
Jeremy Sugarman, MD, MPH, MA
Deputy Director for Medicine; Harvey M. Meyerhoff Professor of Bioethics and Medicine