--- title: "Data and methods to facilitate delivery system reform: harnessing collective intelligence to learn from positive deviance | Sutter Health" description: "By rewarding positive deviants, rather than trying to identify and \"correct\" those who are problematic, providers will voluntarily identify themselves and their methods for achieving superior outcomes." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/delivery-system-reform-learn-fr-positive-deviants-1055312630" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Data and methods to facilitate delivery system reform: harnessing collective intelligence to learn from positive deviance # Data and methods to facilitate delivery system reform: harnessing collective intelligence to learn from positive deviance Luft HS. _Health Serv Res. 45(5 Pt 2):1570-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2010.01148.x. Epub 2010 Aug 2._ 2010-10-01 ## Abstract Researchers often focus on the data and methods to assess policy changes, but data and methods can also be policy tools. To improve, health care systems need mechanisms and incentives for continually gathering, assessing, and acting on data. This requires (1) more comprehensive data, (2) converting data into information, and (3) incentives to apply that information. Restructured economic incentives can encourage clinicians to increase value (higher quality and/or lower cost) for their patients. While necessary, incentives are not sufficient-information is also needed. Incentives can lead clinicians to demand better information. Much of the necessary data is already used in patient care and billing; some additional variables will come directly from patients. The notion builds on two concepts: collective intelligence and positive deviance. The former characterizes knowledge gained from observing the behavior of many independent actors adapting to changing situations. Positive deviants are those who achieve far better results than expected. By rewarding positive deviants, rather than trying to identify and "correct" those who are problematic, providers will voluntarily identify themselves and their methods for achieving superior outcomes. [PubMed abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=methods+to+facilitate+delivery+system+reform%3Aharnessing) ## Research topics - [Health Policy](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Policy%5C%22%22) - [Health Services](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Services%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Public reporting of provider performance at a crossroads in the United States: summary of current barriers and recommendations on how to move forward.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/public-reporting-of-provider-performance-barrriers-1055312919) Hussey PS, Luft HS, McNamara P. Med Care Res Rev. 71(5 Suppl):5S-16S. doi: 10.1177/1077558714535980. Epub 2014 May 27. 2014 Oct 01 - Publication ### [Shared decision making as part of value based care: new U.S. policies challenge our readiness.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/shared-decision-making-new-united-states-policies-1055312408) Spatz ES, Elwyn G, Moulton BW, Volk RJ, Frosch DL. Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes. pii: S1865-9217(17)30087-9. doi: 10.1016/j.zefq.2017.05.012. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2017 May 20 - Publication ### [Health care for the working poor: from focus groups to state policy.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/healthcare-wking-poor-focus-grps-state-policy-1055312329) Tierney WM, Kinney ED, Tai-Seale M, Greene JY, Murray R, Latondress T. J Investig Med. 46(7):279A. 1998 Jul 01 - Publication ### [Does the frequency of pay-for-performance payment matter? Experience from a randomized trial.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/frequency-of-pay-for-performance-payments-1055312614) Chung S, Palaniappan L, Wong E, Rubin HR, and Luft HS. Health Serv Res 45(2):553-64. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2009.01072.x. Epub 2009 Dec 31. 2010 Apr 01 - Publication ### [Standardizing primary care physician panels: is age and sex good enough?](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/standardizing-pcp-panels-1055312652) Chung S, Eaton LJ, Luft HS. Am J Manag Care. 18(7):e262-8.PMID:22823555 2012 Jul 01 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/delivery-system-reform-learn-fr-positive-deviants-1055312630#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Data and methods to facilitate delivery system reform: harnessing collective intelligence to learn from positive deviance"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/delivery-system-reform-learn-fr-positive-deviants-1055312630#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Data and methods to facilitate delivery system reform: harnessing collective intelligence to learn from positive deviance","headline":"Data and methods to facilitate delivery system reform: harnessing collective intelligence to learn from positive deviance","abstract":"Researchers often focus on the data and methods to assess policy changes, but data and methods can also be policy tools. 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