Why It MattersSometimes "rules" get in the way of providing optimal care and system redesign. Rules and regulations are an important part of health care. They are meant to standardize operating procedures, protect patient safety, ensure quality, and prevent fraud and abuse. But sometimes health care leaders inadvertently put processes or policies in place that have an unintended impact on the people we serve and support. Sometimes rules get in the way or even stymie optimal care and the best patient experience.For these reasons, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Leadership Alliance started the Breaking the Rules for Better Care initiative in 2016 to identify and eliminate health care “rules” that may have been created with good intentions but, upon reflection, do not benefit patients, families, or staff. IHI encouraged participating organizations to ask their patients and staff a simple question: “If you could break or change any rule in service of a better care experience for patients or staff, what would it be?” Dozens of organizations identified hundreds of rules deemed to provide little or no value to patients and staff.In 2017, IHI’s Health Improvement Alliance Europe (HIAE) introduced the Breaking the Rules for Better Care idea to European health care settings. Member organizations received over 500 rule submissions from patients, families, and staff through suggestions boxes in cafeterias, postcards, comment boards, and staff brainstorming sessions.In February 2023, IHI’s Strategic Networks once again hosted a Breaking the Rules for Better Care effort and saw participation from nine organizations across the globe who collectively submitted over 1,200 rules. For one week, leaders asked providers, staff, and patients to submit rules that got in the way of effective and high-quality health care.Once again, IHI saw an enthusiastic response to the idea of removing unnecessary barriers to reimagining and redesigning our health care systems. As was the