Harnessing Complex Systems for Better Healthcare
Author Information
Author(s): Braithwaite J, Runciman W B, Merry A F
Primary Institution: University of New South Wales
Hypothesis
How can the natural properties of sociotechnical systems be utilized to improve healthcare safety and quality?
Conclusion
Exploiting the natural characteristics of complex systems can lead to significant improvements in healthcare safety and quality.
Supporting Evidence
- Natural networks among clinicians can enhance communication and care.
- Clinicians perform better when they are empowered and work in groups of shared interest.
- Current top-down approaches to healthcare often lead to modest and unsustainable improvements.
Takeaway
To make healthcare safer, we should use the natural ways that people and systems work together instead of just following strict rules.
Methodology
Triangulated analyses of literature from various fields including mathematics, sociology, marketing science, and psychology.
Limitations
Current strategies to address healthcare problems are often insufficient and overly hierarchical.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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