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Change makers have set up CEs within health systems as hubs for research and innovation to improve healthcare delivery. These CEs are often led by researchers who seek to create a sustainable platform for translating evidence into best practices and embedding those practices into the standard of care delivery within their health system. Each CE faces the challenge of ensuring the longevity of its work. This issue brief provides recommendations, examples, and stories from successful efforts to promote the sustainability of CEs to guide current CE leaders through the process of developing their sustainability plans. These recommendations are structured into the four pillars of sustainability: Alignment, Integration, Leadership Support, and Windows of Opportunity.
CEs create vital services, solutions, research outcomes, and thought leadership that align with the missions of their home institutions. Integrating CEs into their healthcare system can amplify quality and safety within the institution, improving patient outcomes and satisfaction. Thus, sustainability stems from the impact of a CE’s work and strategic partnerships.
Sustaining CEs requires passionate leadership and persistent commitment to a sustainability plan. The four pillars of sustainability can guide efforts to maximize impact and influence, leading to CEs with the strongest foundation to progress their mission of improving quality and safety. Implementing these pillars supported by sound operational practices depends on strong business operations within the CE, which set the framework for training an impactful workforce, strategizing on short- and long-term outcomes, and creating financial plans. Through careful efforts to ensure longevity, CEs can promote lasting impact on the health systems they operate in.
