Handbook of systems and complexity in health
By: Joachim P. Sturmberg, Carmel M. Martin, editors
Publisher: Springer
Published: 2013
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 954
ISBN-13: 9781461449973; 9781461449980
Subjects: System theory; Computational complexity; Medical care; Delivery of Health Care; Systems Theory; Quality Improvement; Systems Analysis
Description: This book is an introduction to health care as a complex adaptive system, a system that feeds back on itself. The first section introduces systems and complexity theory from a science, historical, epistemological, and technical perspective, describing the principles and mathematics. Subsequent sections build on the health applications of systems science theory, from human physiology to medical decision making, population health and health services research. The aim of the book is to introduce and expand on important population health issues from a systems and complexity perspective, highlight current research developments and their implications for health care delivery, consider their ethical implications, and to suggest directions for and potential pitfalls in the future.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.