About Us
Improving Healthcare Through Continuous Learning
We work to accelerate learning and translate research into healthcare practice.
About the Center for Learning Health System Sciences
At the Center for Learning Health System Sciences (CLHSS), we bridge the gap between research and practice by fostering continuous learning in healthcare delivery. Founded in 2021, CLHSS is a partnership between the University of Minnesota Medical School and School of Public Health. Learn more about what we do.
Our Vision
Health systems where evidence and learning flow continuously — driving better outcomes, empowering care team professionals and patients, and transforming care for all.
Our Mission
To foster fast, continuous learning within Minnesota’s healthcare systems where data from practice and existing evidence are used to inform care delivery and to generate new knowledge.
Our Goals
- Build a distinguished research and education program for LHS sciences
- Accelerate the application of science to transform and improve patient care and affect population health
- Seamlessly integrate research, care delivery, and continuous improvement to create new knowledge and directly improve care
Our Values
- Humanity – Lead with generosity, kindness, and compassion toward self and others.
- Ethics – Uphold integrity, do no harm, and embrace policy and regulations as essential for responsible and rigorous scientific research and to protect patients and communities.
- Accountability – Take ownership to meet deadlines and deliver service that exceeds expectations.
- Learning – Engage in everyday and lifelong learning for continuous improvement, including learning from and with patients and caregivers to improve research and healthcare delivery for all.
- Trust – Nurture an inclusive environment that welcomes all, encourages open dialogue, builds trust, and prioritizes broad representation and engagement.
- Harmony – Practice work-life balance and whole person health in support of both personal wellbeing and professional goals.
What is a Learning Health System?
A Learning Health System (LHS) is a cycle between translational research and healthcare practice. Research findings are used to improve clinical practices which then generate data that can be used for more research. The National Academy of Medicine describes a Learning Health System as: “A system in which science, informatics, incentives, and culture are aligned for continuous improvement and innovation, with best practices seamlessly embedded in the care process, patients and families as active participants in all elements, and new knowledge is captured as an integral by-product of the care experience.”
Learning Health Systems are critical to healthcare improvement and reducing the time it takes for research findings to make it into healthcare practice. Building a Learning Health System involves identifying a challenge in healthcare delivery, gathering evidence on the challenge, implementing a change, and evaluating that change by collecting data on its impact.
Join Us in Advancing Healthcare Through Integrating Research and Practice
At CLHSS, we are committed to transforming healthcare through translational research and continuous learning. Join us in advancing healthcare systems that deliver better outcomes for everyone.
Our 2024 Annual Report is now available!
Accelerating Research
Minnesota is at the forefront of a new model for translating research to practice known as Learning Health Systems.
