The triple aim of healthcare systems includes which of the following components?

• A. Higher costs
• B. Better patient outcomes
• C. Fragmented care
• D. Provider burnout

Answer: (C)

The triple aim focuses on three intertwined goals: improving the patient experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing the per capita cost of care. Of the options given, better patient outcomes best reflects these aims, since stronger outcomes are a direct sign of improved health and quality of care that also supports a better patient experience. Fragmented care undermines continuity and satisfaction, higher costs run against the cost-reduction goal, and provider burnout signals dysfunction that makes achieving the aims harder. In practice, aiming for better outcomes helps drive improvements across experience, population health, and cost.