Healthcare systems engineering: an interdisciplinary approach to achieving continuous improvement
by Bin Wu, Cerry Klein, Tamara T. Stone
International Journal of Electronic Healthcare (IJEH), Vol. 2, No. 3, 2006

Abstract: This paper argues that a systems approach can significantly enhance healthcare improvement efforts in patient safety, service quality and healthcare cost containment. The application of systems thinking to healthcare improvement encompasses three key principles: the systems perspective of healthcare processes, structured problem solving and the closed loop of continuous system improvement. These are encapsulated in a conceptual framework of continuous system improvement, which includes a reference architecture model and an analysis and design process model. Combined into a closed-loop, this framework allows users to understand and appropriately apply relevant functions, issues and analytical techniques. Practical applications of the framework are presented.

Online publication date: Wed, 15-Mar-2006

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