Title: Healthcare systems engineering: an interdisciplinary approach to achieving continuous improvement

Authors: Bin Wu, Cerry Klein, Tamara T. Stone

Addresses: Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, University of Missouri–Columbia, E3437 Engineering Building East, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. ' Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, University of Missouri–Columbia, E3437 Engineering Building East, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. Columbia, MO 65211, USA ' Department of Health Management and Informatics, University of Missouri–Columbia, 324 Clark Hall, Columbia, MO 65211, USA

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.

Keywords: systems thinking; continuous system improvement; healthcare improvement; healthcare systems engineering; e-healthcare; electronic healthcare; patient safety; service quality; healthcare cost containment; structured problem solving.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEH.2006.009269

International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, 2006 Vol.2 No.3, pp.201 - 222

Published online: 15 Mar 2006 *

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