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A Conceptual Framework for a Systems Thinking Approach to US Population Health
Author(s) -
Kapp Julie M.,
Simoes Eduardo J.,
DeBiasi Anne,
Kravet Steven J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
systems research and behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 1092-7026
DOI - 10.1002/sres.2420
Subject(s) - population health , excellence , systems thinking , conceptual framework , health care , population , disadvantage , public relations , systems science , healthcare system , sociology , political science , management science , medicine , computer science , engineering , environmental health , social science , law , artificial intelligence
US health outcomes remain poorer than those of high‐income peer countries despite collective efforts directed at improving health and healthcare. Regarding population health, such collective impact efforts increasingly come from community‐based organizations, as federal budgets have been cut over the years. The Institute of Medicine recently identified core metrics to facilitate collective efforts and specified the Secretary of Health and Human Services as the position to lead the nation's efforts to improve the health of the population. However, integration across such a complex system requires a clear, deliberate systems approach. We adapt The Malcolm Baldrige Framework for Performance Excellence as a conceptual model with which to apply systems thinking to population health improvement. We offer specific recommendations necessary to build a national systems thinking approach towards improving the health of communities and populations if we hope to ameliorate the US health disadvantage. Copyright © 2016 The Authors Systems Research and Behavioral Science published by International Federation for Systems Research and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.