Systems-Based Practice:
Competency for Medical Professionals

Co-Sponsors: Children's Hospital Boston and New England Complex Systems Institute

One day introductory course to essential concepts.

Date: January 27, 2004
Location: Children's Hospital Boston

Speakers

• Yaneer Bar-Yam
  New England Complex Systems Institute
• Meghan Dierks, MD
  Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center and
  MIT Laboratory for Computer Science
• David Roberson, MD
  Children's Hospital Boston

Intended audience

Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, residents, healthcare technicians, and other healthcare professionals.

Format

One day intensive program of lectures and discussions.

Course description

This is a one day introduction to the essential concepts of complex systems in healthcare and their application to systems-based practice.

The New England Complex Systems Institute in cooperation with physicians from Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital and Childrenís Hospital in Boston, has developed a program of study to provide essential insights into understanding the system of interacting care providers as well as the role of effective individual action in specific local contexts.

The medical care provided to any individual depends on a few to many individuals, on technology, and on the interactions between them. Since the individual physician is not solely responsible for care, knowledge of systems based practice is central to improving the quality and safety of care. All relevant parts of the system must act effectively and in concert for high quality care to be provided. Recognizing that the system is the care provider (not just a single doctor or nurse) enables physicians and other medical professionals to understand origins of medical errors. Significantly, it also enables healthcare providers to understand the mechanisms by which systems (not just individuals) can learn to reduce the frequency of errors and improve care.

Through this program, physicians and other medical professionals will gain the perspective necessary to see themselves and their actions in relation to the system that provides care.