The True ART: How to Deliver the Best Patient Care

In a traditional operations-centered model, decisions regarding patient care are determined by cost, efficiency, and operational flow. With increasing deductibles and health care expenses, US patients are now consumers of health care and, as such, have developed consumer demands of health care service levels. This is particularly true in the US assisted reproductive technology (ART) market, where the majority of fertility treatment is self-pay. The Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) committee consists of an interdepartmental group of employees ranging from the senior management team to medical directors and laboratory management staff. It is an integrated, continuous effort to measure, monitor, and improve patient safety and the performance of infertility and ART services. Alignment of the organization around the patient is critical to the business of any ART center. The patient experience needs to align with patient expectations and these expectations need to be carefully and thoughtfully developed.