Gone are the shame and blame games played by managers in traditional organizations! Finger-pointing and labeling are the main characteristics of conventional organizations’ approaches to management. But conversely, contemporary organizations use a systematic approach to management, thereby reducing harmful possibilities and near-miss. By perceiving organizations in their totality, the system approach applies biblical principles, stating, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act” (Barker et al., 2020). The outcome is an increase in reliability and the creation of a just culture in all activities.
In addition to that, according to recording number 53 posted on the Screen O Matic website, the system approach has changed the safety culture and raised expectations of quality (Screencast O Matic, 2021). Today, I will inform you how the system approach has been applied in quality management in healthcare by exploring three chapters from my course textbook, Applying Quality Management in Healthcare: A Systems Approach, written by Spath and Kelly.
First and foremost, I will tell you about the characteristics of complex systems in chapter three. The fundamental concept of this chapter is dynamic complexity which refers to complexity portraying subtle cause and effect with uncertain effects over time. The main elements discussed in this chapter include system thinking, microsystems, microsystems, and history dependency. These elements are supported at the microsystem level, where employees, data, and machines interact at the direct patient care level. Dynamic complexity creates change within healthcare through quality delivery facilitated through system thinking. Therefore, this chapter has provided me with an understanding of dynamic complexity, enabling quality service delivery to patients.
Now, we will explore chapter 4: Understanding system behavior. In this chapter, the fundamental concept is a systemic structure: the interrelation-ships for critical elements within the system and the impact of the relationships on the system’s behavior over time. Therefore, the essential aspects in this chapter include system behavior, identifying system structure, and performance. As Zaitseva et al. write in the 2020 issue of Symmetry, microsystems have the potential to cause complex system behavior and uncertainty in data (2020).
Therefore, this chapter influences the continuum of care by developing the system behavior of health professionals by enabling quality decision-making that addresses problems. Through such care delivery, patients receive quality service delivery leading to improved outcomes. Therefore, I find this chapter necessary for improving my workplace behavior and decision-making to solve challenges.
Lastly, let us deep-dive into chapter five, where we will discuss visualizing system relationships. According to Spath and Kelly, authors of Applying Quality Management in Healthcare, the central concept in this chapter is system relationships (2017). The key elements here include quality management, delivery systems, and models of system relationships. These elements integrate at the microsystem level through the professional practice involving tools and interaction with various organization members at different levels. This chapter enhances the development of system relationships by demonstrating various models that improve service delivery while promoting cooperation through teamwork. This chapter empowers my practice because it explains how different system components connect to provide quality service.
The bottom line is system approach in organizational management improves quality management. I’ve described how this is achieved by examining what makes a complex system, understanding system behavior and system relationships in chapters 3, 4, and 5 of Applying quality management in healthcare: A system approach written by Spath and Kelly. I recommend further reading on these topics to inform you of your future or current professional practice.
References
Barker, K. L., Strauss, M. L., Brown, J. K., Blomberg, C. L., & Williams, M. (Eds.). (2020). NIV study bible. Zondervan.
Spath, P., & Kelly, D. (2017). Applying quality management in healthcare: A systems approach. Health Administration Press.
Screencast O Matic. (2021). Recording no.53. Web.
Zaitseva, E., Levashenko, V., Rabcan, J., & Krsak, E. (2020). Application of the structure-function in the evaluation of the human factor in healthcare. Symmetry, 12(1), 1-23. Web.