Institute for Healthcare Optimization

The Institute for Healthcare Optimization (IHO) is a non-profit organization based in Bedford, Massachusetts. Established as a 501(c)(3), IHO focuses its efforts on research, education, and service within the healthcare industry. With 17 employees, IHO operates with a mission to advance the application of operations management principles within healthcare delivery. IHO specializes in patient flow variability management, a methodology developed from the work of Boston University's Program for the Management of Variability in Health Care Delivery (MVP). Their approach, successfully implemented by various hospitals, aims to simultaneously enhance the quality of care while reducing costs, challenging the traditional notion of a trade-off between these two factors. IHO's core purpose is to act as a catalyst for wider adoption of operations management techniques within the healthcare sector. They strive to disseminate these scientific management practices across hospitals and other healthcare delivery systems, ultimately aiming to positively impact access, quality, and cost of care. For more information or inquiries, please visit IHO's website at ihoptimize.org.